AnglersChannel

Jordan Lee Cruises in Knockout Round at REDCREST 2022 Presented by Costa Sunglasses on Grand Lake

Final 10 Anglers now Set for Sunday’s Final-Day Shootout for $300,000 Top Prize

TULSA, Okla. (March 26, 2022) – Berkley pro Jordan Lee of Cullman, Alabama, caught 11 scorable bass weighing 33 pounds, 2 ounces to win the Knockout Round (Group B) on Day 4 of the Major League Fishing (MLF) REDCREST 2022 presented by Costa Sunglasses, the Bass Pro Tour championship, on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees.

Joining Lee in Sunday’s Championship Round of competition in the top five are pros Michael Neal of Dayton, Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama, Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Florida, and Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee. The five-day event, hosted by Tulsa Regional Tourism, features anglers competing for a total purse of $730,000, including a top cash prize of $300,000 to the winner.

“I’m feeling really good about the day and was super happy to have a good morning bite,” Lee said. “I was able to catch them in the same places as the other day, doing the same thing.”

Lee has been catching fish with various jerkbaits while watching his forward-facing sonar but did find a shallower bite late in the day.

“I used five or six different jerkbaits and my Lowrance ActiveTarget was key,” he said. “I don’t have unlimited spots, but everywhere I thought I could catch them today, I did. I eased up shallow later in the day and caught some on a jig and that was more fun than anything, but I don’t think I’ll be able to catch enough doing that to win.”

Tennessee pro Michael Neal ended the day with 12 for 31-9 but likely could have caught much more. After feeling that he had caught enough to safely advance, he left his main area and searched for more water.

“I laid off those fish about 30 minutes into the second period,” Neal said. “The winning fish are there and the only questions are if they will stay and if they cooperate tomorrow. I’ll be around the fish to win; I just don’t know what I’ll have to catch since I don’t know if everyone else let off their fish.”

Reigning REDCREST Champion Dustin Connell was the third angler with over 30 pounds on the day, with 10 for 31-5. He did it in the way he loves to fish, with a jerkbait and Lowrance ActiveTarget.

“It was a good day, and I caught them my favorite way,” Connell said. “I got a little pattern going but feel like I’m going to have to run new water if I have a chance to win. I have some places, but I don’t think it’s enough to beat these guys with what I have now.”

Connell is going all-in on the jerkbait tomorrow.

“I may crank a little in the morning, but I’ll have four jerkbait rods on the deck for the rest of the day,” he said.

The top five pros from Group B that made the cut and will advance to Championship Sunday on Grand Lake are:

1^st:          Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., 11 bass, 33-2
2^nd:         Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 12 bass, 31-9
3^rd:         Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 10 bass, 31-5
4^th:         Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., nine bass, 27-13
5^th:         Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., seven bass, 26-11

The five pros eliminated from competition Saturday are:

6^th:         Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., eight bass, 21-8, $10,000
7^th:         Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., two bass, 5-13, $10,000
8^th:         Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., two bass, 4-9, $10,000
9^th:         Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., one bass, 4-2, $10,000
10^th:       Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., zero bass, 0-0, $10,000

Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 44 scorable bass weighing 186 pounds, 2 ounces caught by nine pros Saturday.

At REDCREST 2022, the full field of anglers competed in the two-day Qualifying Round on Days 1 (Wednesday) and 2 (Thursday) of the event. The field was cut to just the top 20 based on two-day total cumulative weight. The remaining 20 anglers were split into two groups for the Knockout Round – 10 (Group A) competed on Day 3 (Friday) and 10 (Group B) will compete on Day 4 (Saturday). The top five anglers from each group based on total single-day weight now advance to the Championship Sunday, where weights are zeroed and the angler that catches the highest total weight Sunday will be crowned the REDCREST 2022 champion and earn the top prize of $300,000.

Wheeler weighed a 5-pound, 11-ounce bass in Period 3 to earn Saturday’s Berkley Big Bass Award and earn the $1,000 prize. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler that weighs the biggest bass each day, and a $1,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the largest bass of the tournament.

The General Tire Take Off Ceremony will take place Sunday at 6:45 a.m. at the Wolf Creek Park and Boating Facility, located at 963 N. 16^th St. in Grove, Oklahoma. The final 10 anglers will depart at 7:30 a.m. from the park and return after competition ends at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

REDCREST 2022 Presented by Costa at Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees features anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The 2021 Bass Pro Tour featured a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country. The top 41 anglers in the Angler of the Year (AOY) standings after the seven events qualified to compete in REDCREST 2022 Presented by Costa.

The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all five days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

Television coverage of REDCREST 2022 Presented by Costa will be showcased across two two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, July 2 and July 9 on the Discovery Channel. A one-hour special episode of MLF REDCREST 2022 Presented by Costa will premiere at 2 p.m. ET, Sunday, July 17 on CBS. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on the Discovery Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel. Each two-hour long reality-based episode goes in-depth to break down each day of competition.

Proud sponsors of the MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Covercraft, Favorite Fishing, Garmin, General Tire, Googan Baits, Grundéns, Guaranteed Rate, Humminbird, Lowrance, Luminox, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Nitro Performance Boats, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Power Stop, Rapala, Starbrite, Toro, Toyota, Wrangler, Yellowstone Bourbon and Zoom.

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Late Entry From Erskine College Claims Victory In Bassmaster College Series Event On Norman

Avery Hammock and Garrett Smith of South Carolina's Erskine College have won the 2022 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Lake Norman presented by Bass Pro Shops with a two-day total of 31 pounds.

Photo by Kyle Jessie/B.A.S.S.

March 26, 2022

CORNELIUS, N.C. — Avery Hammock and Garrett Smith felt a gamut of emotions this week in winning the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Lake Norman presented by Bass Pro Shops.

They were hopeful because they came here with no guarantee of even competing in the derby. Then they were grateful when they made it from the waitlist into the tournament. They were excited when they jumped into fourth place on Day 1, and they were nervous when their Day 2 weight dropped.

In the end, however, the duo from Erskine College was ecstatic. Hammock and Smith weighed an even 31 pounds in the two-day event and won a cash prize of $2,601 to split evenly. Their victory also earned them a berth in the Bassmaster College Series National Championship to be held later this year.

The sophomores from Erskine College, which is located in Due West, S.C., caught a five-bass limit of 17-15 Friday but were a full 4 1/2 pounds behind Day 1 leaders Luke Glasgow and James Ikerd of Mississippi State. The leaders caught only three keepers on Day 2, however, while Hammock and Smith weighed another limit, this one for a steady 13-1.

That was just enough to hold off the competition. Joshua DeKoning and Dalton Mollenkopf of Adrian College in Michigan finished second with 10 bass for 30-9 and Glasgow and Ikerd placed third with eight bass for 30-7.

It was a thrilling win for the Erskine anglers — Hammock, 20, from Flowery Branch, Ga., and Smith, three days shy of his 20th birthday. He hails from Mt. Holly, N.C., only 15 minutes from the site of this week’s tournament.

“I had a test on Thursday and couldn’t get here before then,” Hammock said. “But (Smith) was here to register if we could.”

“They were packing up the sponsor tables when I walked in,” Smith said. “(Erskine) had the last three teams to get into the tournament.”

Strong start: Hammock and Smith were the second-to-last boat to take off on Day 1, but they made the most of their time Friday on this 32,000-acre reservoir of the Catawba River. Most of the big bites came using 5-inch Senko wacky rigs (green pumpkin) and a Megabass Magdraft (white) swimbait. After boating a 6-pounder cruising that morning, they punctuated their bag with a late 5-pounder.

All five of their Day 1 bass were largemouth. They fished in the backs of canals and inside pockets to shield themselves from steady winds.

“We had to be really slow and methodical,” Smith said.

Finished business: The duo had some ground to make up on Saturday and they did so early.

“We had a limit a lot quicker this morning, but we struggled to find the size,” Hammock said. “We just kept running our pockets with that wacky rig. I was in the back of the boat living or dying with a swimbait. A 4-pounder or so was our biggest today. We had our eye on a 6- or 7-pounder today, but we never could get her to eat.”

Hammock and Smith weighed three spotted bass and two largemouth Saturday, and doubted their chances of climbing into the pole position.

Feel the heat: Glasgow and Ikerd seemed likeliest to topple Hammock and Smith from the hot seats after catching 22-7 on Day 1, including a tournament-best 7-5 largemouth. But the Bulldogs team added only 8 pounds to their total and finished third.

Then and only then, could Hammock and Smith breathe a sigh of relief.

“That 22-pound bag they caught yesterday is insane,” Smith said. “I don’t know if a bag like that has been caught here in the last four or five years. That says a lot about how good the anglers in the tournament are.”

Second place: DeKoning and Mollenkopf caught 17-1 Friday, good enough for sixth place. They jumped to a podium finish with a 13-8-limit Saturday.

“We were throwing around a 5-inch (Megabass) Spark Shad, but they wouldn’t start eating it until about 2 o’clock,” DeKoning said. “Once the sun got on the docks on Day 1, we were getting bites. Today, it was more between docks.”

“They were more scattered today, but the sun was key,” Mollenkopf said. “We were putting shad-colored baits in their face. They couldn’t resist that.”

Third place: Glasgow and Ikerd were disappointed they only managed three bass on Day 2 but pleased to collect a check and grab a spot in the national tournament later this year.

“We decided to run some new water only having two fish earlier today,” Glasgow said. “The first cast, I caught a 2 1/4-pound spot. We thought we had the place to win it. But from that point on, we probably had 15 to 20 bites ...We were getting short strikes. But yesterday, the same bait got us two 5-pounders and that 7-pounder.”

Those fish were caught on a shad-colored Megabass Magdraft, as well.

Final thoughts: The Top 12 teams split a total cash purse of $8,967 and the leading 10% of the 211 total teams earned entry into the national title tournament.

The tournament on Lake Norman was the second of four two-day events in the Bassmaster College Series this year. A College Series Wild Card event also will precede the championship.

2022 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Lake Norman presented by Bass Pro Shops 3/25-3/26
Lake Norman, Cornelius NC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

Angler Club/School Pts

1. Avery Hammock - Garrett Smith Erskine College 250
Day 1: 5 17-15 Day 2: 5 13-01 Total: 10 31-00
2. Joshua DeKoning - Dalton Mollenkopf Adrian College 249
Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 5 13-08 Total: 10 30-09
3. Luke Glasgow - James Ikerd Mississippi State University 248
Day 1: 5 22-07 Day 2: 3 08-00 Total: 8 30-07
4. Connor Jacob - Sam Smith Auburn University 247
Day 1: 5 18-01 Day 2: 5 11-14 Total: 10 29-15
5. Robert Gee - Chad Sentell University of Tennessee 246
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 5 10-05 Total: 10 29-08
6. Conner Dimauro - Justin Botts Bryan College 245
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 17-14 Total: 10 28-15
7. Chance Schwartz - James Willoughby University of Montevallo 244
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 13-07 Total: 10 28-15
8. Jeremy Dellinger - Adam Seagle Erskine College 243
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 10-03 Total: 10 27-15
9. Tyler Lubbat - Hayden O'barr University of Alabama 242
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 14-07 Total: 10 27-07
10. Peyton Harris - Dalton Head Montevallo 241
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 10-04 Total: 10 26-07
11. Sam Hanggi - Sam Hoesley Auburn University 240
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 13-06 Total: 10 26-05
12. Matthew Benson - Nathanael Wright Emmanuel College 239
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 13-05 Total: 10 25-08
13. Louis Monetti - Michael Fugaro UNC Charlotte 238
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 12-05 Total: 10 25-03
14. Gunner Whitaker - Mitch Johnson Kentucky Christian University 237
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 10-13 Total: 10 24-12
15. Jake Monti - Samuel Dunson UNC Charlotte 236
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 14-08 Total: 10 24-11
16. Matthew Davis - Bryce Kostman Adrian College 235
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 4 11-10 Total: 9 24-05
17. Lane Bailey - Justin Eggers Catawba Valley Community College 234
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 13-01 Total: 10 24-04
18. Dustin Bauer - Wyatt Pearman Campbellsville University 233
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 12-03 Total: 10 24-03
19. Brody Robison - Jack Alexander University of Montevallo 232
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 08-04 Total: 10 23-09
20. Grayson Morris - Jacob Pfundt University of Montevallo 231
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 11-01 Total: 10 23-09
21. Andrew Rickman - Michael Postlewait Dallas Baptist University 230
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 12-10 Total: 10 23-04
22. Rob Lindsey - Mason Cizek Bryan College 229
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 3 07-09 Total: 8 23-03
23. Chase Carey - Dylan Akins Emmanuel College 228
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 10-09 Total: 10 22-15
24. Chase Sansom - Tyler Drown Marshall University 227
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 13-00 Total: 10 22-14
25. Cody Griffith - Drew Jennings Auburn University 226
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 07-15 Total: 10 22-13
26. Ben Brockwell - Justice Gayhart Kentucky Christian University 225
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 13-04 Total: 10 22-10
27. Jacob Butts - Mark Kershaw Erskine College 224
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 08-09 Total: 10 22-08
28. Mitchell Gunn - Kyle Kunst Grand Valley State University 223
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 10-08 Total: 10 22-05
29. Ben Rand - Mason Grossbauer Davenport University 222
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 09-07 Total: 10 22-03
30. Zach Mcnary - Trenton Penninga Grand Valley State University 221
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 10-05 Total: 10 21-15
31. Nick Pemberton - Brennan Berglund University of Montevallo 220
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 3 07-03 Total: 8 21-14
32. Robert Cruvellier - Carson Maddux Auburn University 219
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 10-08 Total: 10 21-13
33. Brooks Anderson - Parker Guy Emmanuel College 218
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 09-02 Total: 10 21-08
34. Will Carnes - Tavin Hodgens campbellsville university 217
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 09-07 Total: 10 21-08
35. Cole Hopson - Nicholas Robinson Georgia College 216
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 09-12 Total: 10 21-08
36. Beau Browning - Jake Peck Drury University 215
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 11-02 Total: 10 21-04
37. Tyler Cory - Scott Sledge University of Montevallo 214
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 4 08-02 Total: 9 21-03
38. Hunter Keller - Carson Eckard Catawba Valley Community College 213
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 5 11-09 Total: 10 21-03
39. Reece Martin - Mark Harris Dallas Baptist University 212
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 08-08 Total: 10 21-01
40. Aaron Shumaker - Hunter Enlow Lander University 211
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 08-05 Total: 10 20-15
41. Sam Harvey - Jordan Brewer Auburn University 210
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 11-12 Total: 10 20-11
42. Drake Hemby - Carter Koza Carson-Newman University 209
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 4 05-09 Total: 9 20-06
43. Seth Jenkins - TJ McKenzie Emmanuel College 208
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 10-06 Total: 10 20-04
44. Austin Woody - Bryce Fowler East Carolina University 207
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 10-00 Total: 10 20-04
45. Logan Parks - Tucker Smith Auburn University 206
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 11-00 Total: 10 19-13
46. Brycen Hendriks - Gavin Ange UNC Charlotte 205
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 06-12 Total: 10 19-11
47. Tyler Altizer - Dylan Thomson King University 204
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 09-09 Total: 10 19-11
48. Ryan Thomas - Solomon Glenn University of Montevallo 203
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 2 06-08 Total: 7 19-09
49. Jacob Welch - Lee Lambrecht Drury University 202
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 11-01 Total: 10 19-08
50. Lafe Messer - Matt Messer Kentucky Christian University 201
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 09-14 Total: 10 19-06
51. Hagan Marlin - Tanner English University of Montevallo 200
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 09-09 Total: 10 19-05
52. Anderson Jones - Lander University 199
Day 1: 5 07-03 Day 2: 5 12-01 Total: 10 19-04
53. Brock Williams - Brandon Johnson Ohio State University 198
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 07-10 Total: 10 19-01
54. Brady Duncan - Stevie Mills Carson-Newman University 197
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 11-02 Total: 10 19-01
55. Lawson Blake - Caden Fuller Marshall University 196
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 09-06 Total: 10 19-01
56. Brandon Martin - Emmanuel College 195
Day 1: 4 06-14 Day 2: 5 12-02 Total: 9 19-00
57. Britt Myers - Tyler Anderson Lander University 194
Day 1: 5 06-12 Day 2: 5 12-02 Total: 10 18-14
58. Nolan Yeager - Riley Aebi Stephen F. Austin State Universi 193
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 08-03 Total: 10 18-14
59. Mark Burnham - Adam Green Greenville University 192
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 10-10 Total: 10 18-13
60. Carson Palmer - Cole Rankin Carson-Newman University 191
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 09-11 Total: 10 18-11
61. Max Pierlott - Mike Pierlott UNC Charlotte 190
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 06-02 Total: 10 18-10
62. Joey Williams - Evan Thomas Liberty University 189
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 09-10 Total: 10 18-09
63. Hunter MCClaskey - King University 188
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 09-07 Total: 10 18-09
64. Drew Gill - Jonah Potts Wabash Valley College 187
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 06-13 Total: 10 18-08
65. Colby Kerr - Jonathan Fitch Kentucky Christian University 186
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 3 03-14 Total: 8 18-07
66. Weston Hollar - Jordan Pennington University of Montevallo 185
Day 1: 4 08-00 Day 2: 5 10-06 Total: 9 18-06
67. Jacob Witkowski - Hunter Jenkins Dallas Baptist Univesity 184
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 4 07-05 Total: 9 18-02
68. Drew Traffanstedt - Dakendrick Patterson University of Montevallo 183
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 4 06-13 Total: 9 18-00
69. Cole Thompson - John Heacock University of North Alabama 182
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 09-13 Total: 10 18-00
70. Nate Lesch - Tennessee Tech University 181
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 3 06-14 Total: 8 17-15
71. Seth Elkins - Dale Hansard Jacksonville State University 180
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 09-15 Total: 10 17-14
72. Storm Cline - Ely Dennison Carson-Newman University 179
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 4 08-09 Total: 9 17-13
73. JD Clarke - Hunter Muncrief Stephen F Austin State Universit 178
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 09-13 Total: 10 17-09
74. Joseph Bissing - Jackson Paden University of Tennessee 177
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 07-13 Total: 10 17-09
75. Alex Richmond - Riley Bowen Grand Valley State University 176
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 06-15 Total: 10 17-08
76. Grant Dohle - Wyatt Montle Missouri State University 175
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 09-05 Total: 10 17-08
77. Lucas Smith - Dalton Mize Jacksonville State University 174
Day 1: 3 06-08 Day 2: 5 10-12 Total: 8 17-04
78. Nate Triplett - Cy Lambert University of North Alabama 173
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 07-02 Total: 10 17-04
79. Brian Linder - Nathan Thompson Minnesota State - Mankato 172
Day 1: 4 07-03 Day 2: 5 09-15 Total: 9 17-02
80. Jackson Stephens - Maxwell Trotter Mckendree University 171
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 4 07-13 Total: 9 17-02
81. Walker Brown - Chandler Brewer University of North Alabama 170
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 08-03 Total: 10 17-00
82. Alec Berens - Joseph Bruener Mckendree University 169
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 4 08-10 Total: 9 17-00
83. Lukas Mckinney - Sam Moll Murray State University 168
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 06-06 Total: 10 16-15
84. Nathan Burdett - Andrew Davis Troy University 167
Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 4 09-06 Total: 9 16-15
85. Chase Mundhenke - Blake Milligan Auburn University 166
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 07-05 Total: 10 16-14
86. Easton Fothergill - Nick Dumke University of Montevallo 165
Day 1: 5 07-02 Day 2: 5 09-11 Total: 10 16-13
87. John Ortman - Emmanuel 164
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 5 08-07 Total: 10 16-13
88. Wesley Smith - Grant Harris Catawba Valley Community College 163
Day 1: 4 06-09 Day 2: 4 10-03 Total: 8 16-12
89. Connor Hicks - Austin Wadzinski University of Tennessee 162
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 08-12 Total: 10 16-11
90. Bryant Marsh - Tyler Hill Blue Mountain College 161
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 3 07-15 Total: 8 16-11
91. Blair Cox - Zach Adamec Missouri State University 160
Day 1: 4 05-08 Day 2: 5 11-02 Total: 9 16-10
92. Blake Bullock - Blue Mountain College 159
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 07-09 Total: 10 16-06
93. Caden Sweeten - Samuel Heichel Bemidji State University 158
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 07-14 Total: 10 16-06
94. Hunter Bailey - JR Young Jr Jacksonville State University 157
Day 1: 4 07-03 Day 2: 5 09-02 Total: 9 16-05
95. Logan Bozeman - Andrew Fryer Southern Union State Community C 156
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 06-15 Total: 10 16-03
96. Stone Payne - Hayden Baxter University of Tennessee- Knoxvil 155
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 4 07-00 Total: 9 16-03
97. Matthew Zdrazil - Easton Lindus Emmanuel College 154
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 3 05-11 Total: 8 16-02
98. Ryan Park - Samuel Niemeyer Murray State University 153
Day 1: 4 07-02 Day 2: 5 09-00 Total: 9 16-02
99. Dalton Coleman - Joe Bob Burchett Kentucky Christian University 152
Day 1: 3 09-02 Day 2: 3 06-11 Total: 6 15-13
100. Parker Lambert - Koby Horn Lander university 151
Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 5 07-10 Total: 10 15-11
101. Whit Edmonds - Julia Levister Lander University 150
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 07-07 Total: 10 15-10
102. Brodie Curvin - Connor Handley wallace state 149
Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 5 08-01 Total: 10 15-10
103. Blake Stringer - Colby Joseph Campbellsville University 148
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 3 05-07 Total: 8 15-07
104. Conner Crosby - James Cobbs Auburn University 147
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 2 04-14 Total: 7 15-06
105. Isaac Irvin - Mason Gross wabash valley college 146
Day 1: 3 05-10 Day 2: 5 09-10 Total: 8 15-04
106. Steve Kinard - Jimmy Mitchum Lander University 145
Day 1: 5 07-13 Day 2: 5 07-02 Total: 10 14-15
107. Adam Troyer - Andrew Yazdi Indiana University 144
Day 1: 5 07-06 Day 2: 5 07-09 Total: 10 14-15
108. Andrew Thompson - Jacob Swanson Montevallo 143
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 14-13
109. Cj Jobe - James Stillwell Western Carolina University 142
Day 1: 4 07-12 Day 2: 5 07-01 Total: 9 14-13
110. Landon Howe - Makalie King Georgia Southern University 141
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 14-08
111. Bo Thomas - Mason Vernia Western Michigan University 140
Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 5 06-15 Total: 10 14-08
112. Nathan Smith - Cabe Mackey Catawba Valley Community College 139
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 2 03-04 Total: 7 14-07
113. Calvin Landsberg - Jack Palaia University of Alabama 138
Day 1: 3 04-14 Day 2: 4 09-09 Total: 7 14-07
114. Jacob Highley - Autumn Belcher Kentucky Christian University 137
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 3 03-05 Total: 8 14-06
115. Bailey Mckinney - Levi Smith Marshall University 136
Day 1: 5 07-05 Day 2: 5 07-01 Total: 10 14-06
116. Cole Holloway - Taylor Mcmullen Emmanuel College 135
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 5 06-10 Total: 10 14-05
117. Austin Sloan - Mason Cary Illinois State University 134
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 3 05-08 Total: 8 14-04
118. Riley Lawson - Chris Baker Kentucky Christian University 133
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 1 01-13 Total: 6 13-14
119. Emily Freeman - Cole Hadlock Murray State University 132
Day 1: 2 02-15 Day 2: 5 10-15 Total: 7 13-14
120. Spencer Black - Caleb Lonca Catawba Valley Community College 131
Day 1: 2 04-13 Day 2: 2 09-01 Total: 4 13-14
121. Brock Blazier - Matthew Wilson Southern union state community c 130
Day 1: 4 06-08 Day 2: 3 07-06 Total: 7 13-14
122. Bailey Rene - John Phipps Indiana University Southeast 129
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 4 05-00 Total: 9 13-13
123. Sam Schmitz - Braden Lewis University of North Alabama 128
Day 1: 5 07-10 Day 2: 4 05-15 Total: 9 13-09
124. Ryan Boggs - Hayden Fuhr Lander 127
Day 1: 5 07-03 Day 2: 5 06-06 Total: 10 13-09
125. Brock Lederman - Kyle Schwibinger University of Wisconsin- Stevens 126
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 3 04-15 Total: 8 13-08
126. Evan Rice - Sawyer Mccullough Troy University 125
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 3 04-00 Total: 8 13-07
127. Morgan Miracle - Jake Thornbury Campbellsville University 124
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 3 04-07 Total: 8 13-07
128. Will Lutes - Jacob Middleton Ohio State University 123
Day 1: 4 04-11 Day 2: 5 08-11 Total: 9 13-06
129. Anthony Ethridge - Trey Carr III Murray State University 122
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 2 03-06 Total: 7 13-01
130. Andrew Ready - Vince Maffei Webber International University 121
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 3 03-13 Total: 8 12-12
131. Haydan Quesenberry - Ryan Diskin Auburn University 120
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 4 08-01 Total: 7 12-12
132. Braedon Metzgar - Hayden Schneider Texas AM University 119
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 3 03-11 Total: 8 12-09
133. Cameron Dials - Jonathan Fraley Kentucky Christian University 118
Day 1: 3 05-15 Day 2: 5 06-10 Total: 8 12-09
134. Hagen Robinson - Grayson Perkins Western Carolina University 117
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 2 04-00 Total: 7 12-08
135. Weston Bison - Austin Gregory Lander University 116
Day 1: 4 06-13 Day 2: 2 05-11 Total: 6 12-08
136. Kyle Knoll - Luke Morgan Southern Union State Community C 115
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 3 04-06 Total: 8 12-05
137. Cole Taylor - Hunter Temples Lander 114
Day 1: 4 08-03 Day 2: 2 04-00 Total: 6 12-03
138. Austin Goins - Bryan college 113
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 2 02-10 Total: 7 12-00
139. Brock Bila - Dylan Chambers Drury University 112
Day 1: 4 08-14 Day 2: 2 02-15 Total: 6 11-13
140. Elliot Torode - Logan Plueger University of Montevallo 111
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 2 03-05 Total: 7 11-10
141. Adrian Urso - Corbin Templon Murray State University 110
Day 1: 5 07-05 Day 2: 3 04-05 Total: 8 11-10
142. Turner Hart - Summer Dees Bryan College 109
Day 1: 4 08-07 Day 2: 2 03-00 Total: 6 11-07
143. Kaden Liles - Hunter Lepping University of North Alabama 108
Day 1: 4 07-03 Day 2: 3 04-03 Total: 7 11-06
144. Eion Patterson - Nathan King UNC Charlotte 107
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 5 07-08 Total: 7 11-03
145. Gavin Clevenger - Chase Hastings Carson-Newman University 106
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 5 08-08 Total: 6 11-01
146. Connor Cartmell - Andrew Vereen Coastal Carolina University 105
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 1 02-01 Total: 6 10-08
147. Austin Marley - Noah Simmons Georgia Southern University 104
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 4 08-13 Total: 5 10-05
148. John Garrett Pearson - Rudy Pearson IV Georgia College 103
Day 1: 3 04-12 Day 2: 3 05-08 Total: 6 10-04
149. Christopher Kistler - Malcolm Patton Calhoun Community College 102
Day 1: 3 02-09 Day 2: 5 07-10 Total: 8 10-03
150. Ben Tschoerner - Chance Thompson Stephen F Austin State Universit 101
Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 2 02-07 Total: 7 10-00
151. Josh Rouse - Avery Doughty Carson-Newman University 100
Day 1: 2 06-04 Day 2: 2 03-06 Total: 4 09-10
152. Caleb Jacob - Illinois State University 99
Day 1: 4 06-04 Day 2: 2 03-02 Total: 6 09-06
153. Brantley Anders - Will Rooker Kentucky Christian University 98
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 3 03-13 Total: 6 09-05
154. Bryar Chambers - Clent Blackwood Wallace State Community College 97
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 1 00-15 Total: 6 09-03
155. Logan Pumphrey - Andrew Hadley Indiana South East 96
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 09-02
156. Jack York - Jacob Miller stephen f austin state universit 95
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 09-01
157. Tanner Maness - Chandler Ellis Lander University 94
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 08-15
158. Nick Staub - Lake Norsworthy Blue Mountain College 93
Day 1: 1 01-04 Day 2: 4 07-10 Total: 5 08-14
159. Ethan Vue - Colton Kentopp University of North Carolina at 92
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 4 06-15 Total: 5 08-12
160. Lucas Oliver - Nathan Dellinger Catawba Valley Community College 91
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 08-07 Total: 5 08-07
161. Garrett Warren - Hayden Marbut Auburn University 90
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 2 04-14 Total: 4 08-06
162. Austin Smith - Jacob Lambert Carson-Newman University 89
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 3 04-07 Total: 5 08-06
163. Victor Alford - Dylan Johnson bryan college 88
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 2 04-14 Total: 4 08-04
164. Caleb Bridges - Jacob Davidson bryan college 87
Day 1: 4 07-00 Day 2: 1 01-01 Total: 5 08-01
165. Andrew Mega - Brennan Kenison UNC CHARLOTTE 86
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 08-00
166. Garrett Thompson - Ethan Perry West Virginia University 85
Day 1: 4 07-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 07-15
167. Owen Januszewski - Nick Owens Adrian College 84
Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 3 04-02 Total: 6 07-15
168. Conner Johnson - Jake Thomas Georgetown college 83
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 07-11
169. Caleb Sheldon - Chase Beale Lander University 82
Day 1: 4 06-06 Day 2: 1 01-04 Total: 5 07-10
170. Matthew Pufahl - Alex Ripplinger Bemidji State University 81
Day 1: 3 04-08 Day 2: 2 03-01 Total: 5 07-09
171. Shane Nelson - Aaron Jagdfeld Adrian College 80
Day 1: 5 07-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 07-07
172. John Pope - Walker Leslie UNC Charlotte 79
Day 1: 2 00-02 Day 2: 5 07-02 Total: 7 07-04
173. Chris Drum - Kaleb Davis Lenoir Rhyne University 78
Day 1: 5 07-02 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 07-02
174. Thomas Mingle - Nathan Couch Univerity of Tennessee 77
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 2 02-07 Total: 5 07-02
175. John Sells - Cooper Hesling Georgia Southern University 76
Day 1: 5 07-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 07-01
176. Braden Cox - Joel Berelsman Ohio State 75
Day 1: 4 07-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 07-00
177. Kyle Dillon - Kolby Kindley Western Carolina University 74
Day 1: 5 06-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 06-14
178. Zach Cruze - Daniel Schroeder Murray state 73
Day 1: 4 06-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 06-12
178. Tyler Finley - Lane Lassiter University of North Alabama 73
Day 1: 4 06-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 06-12
180. Evan Barker - Lane Pohlman Campbellsville University 71
Day 1: 4 05-02 Day 2: 1 01-08 Total: 5 06-10
181. Kyle Kreger - Elliott Pritchett Southern Illinois University Car 70
Day 1: 2 03-13 Day 2: 2 02-07 Total: 4 06-04
182. James Romig - Colton Morris Florida Gateway College 69
Day 1: 3 03-09 Day 2: 2 02-03 Total: 5 05-12
183. Jordan Turner - Davian Smith University of Montevallo 68
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 2 03-01 Total: 4 05-12
184. Camdon Lewis - TJ Edwards Jr Blue Mountain College 67
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 05-11 Total: 4 05-11
185. Riley Underwood - Chandler Olivier University of Montevallo 66
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 1 01-07 Total: 4 05-11
186. Hunter Waldrop - Reese Melven University of South Carolina 65
Day 1: 3 05-10 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-10
187. Isaac Carlson - Blaine Mattingly Campbellsville University 64
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 3 04-01 Total: 4 05-04
188. Garrett Huddleston - Riley Voltz Auburn University 63
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 04-10
189. Thomas Mcelwaney - Colby Mason Georgia Southern University 62
Day 1: 2 04-08 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 04-08
190. Austin Curry - Milton Johnston III Lenoir Rhyne University 61
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 3 02-15 Total: 4 04-05
191. Landon Brown - Maycee Lyons Morehead State University 60
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 03-05
192. Andrew Pittman - East Carolina University 59
Day 1: 1 02-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 02-15
193. Ben Hutchins - Clay Burch North Carolina State University 58
Day 1: 2 02-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 02-12
194. Cameron Lake - Hunter Luke University of Alabama 57
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 1 01-09 Total: 2 02-12
195. Dawson Burton - Trent Keltner Kentucky Christian University 56
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-10 Total: 1 02-10
196. Lane Bradley - Holden Kauble Wabash Valley College 55
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 1 01-03 Total: 2 02-09
197. Blayner Leeman - Noah Hurford Kentucky Christian University 54
Day 1: 2 02-08 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 02-08
198. Nicholas Owens - Jeff Thomas Ohio State University 53
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 02-01
199. Chris Brooks - David Bartlett Greenville University 52
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-14
200. Harrison Heins - Luke Fraley Tennessee Tech University 51
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-05
201. Daniel Cosby - Kendale Utter Coastal Carolina University 50
Day 1: 1 01-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-04
201. Clay Henderson - Zachary Ward Drury University 50
Day 1: 1 01-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-04
203. Logan Anderson - Tyler Little North Carolina State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Jacob Conyers - Spencer Pergrem Morehead State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Parker Domschke - Harper Burkeen McKendree University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Patrick Henry - Jared Minor Ohio State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Noah Jones - Chance Konrad Coastal Carolina University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Jake Kimbrough - Chandler Pruett Blue Mountain College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Jacob Silver - Ben Bales Western Carolina University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Cameron Smith - Jacob Blackburn Ohio State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
203. Elijah Walker - Jess Taylor AUBURN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 132 842 1700-00
2 98 698 1334-15
----------------------------------
230 1540 3034-15

by AnglersChannel

Luke Clausen Wins Knockout Round at REDCREST 2022 Presented by Costa Sunglasses on Grand Lake

Spokane, Washington Pro Leads the Charge as Montgomery, Evers, Thrift and Birge also Advance to Championship Sunday, 10 Anglers Set for Saturday

TULSA, Okla. (March 25, 2022) – Bass Pro Tour angler Luke Clausen of Spokane, Washington, weighed nine scorable bass totaling 24 pounds even to win the Knockout Round (Group A) on Day 3 of the Major League Fishing (MLF) REDCREST 2022 presented by Costa Sunglasses , the Bass Pro Tour championship, on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees. The five-day event, hosted by Tulsa Regional Tourism, features anglers competing for a total purse of $730,000, including a top cash prize of $300,000 to the winner.

Also advancing along with Clausen to Sunday’s Championship Round of competition are pros Andy Montgomery of Blacksburg, South Carolina, Edwin Evers of Talala, Oklahoma, Bryan Thrift of Shelby, North Carolina, and Zack Birge of Blanchard, Oklahoma.

“I went out there today not knowing if I might zero or I might catch them all day long,” said Clausen. “Right now this lake is changing so much – these fronts come through, the water is coming up, it’s changing colors everywhere across the lake. The key is figuring out how to catch them, right now, by the minute.

“The first period was rough for me,” Clausen continued. “It came together when I started running a little bit of wind. When I started fishing that wind, I was able to get those bites and the second period was crucial with that little breeze. I knew I needed to make hay when I could, and I really leaned on them in the second period.”

Hometown favorite Edwin Evers of Talala, who led the first day of competition, was disappointed with his performance but still happy to be advancing to the Championship Round.

“Man, I didn’t drink that much coffee today but I felt like I was jerking my jerkbait away from every fish out there,” the Oklahoma pro said. “I needed to slow down, and I just didn’t get it done today. But we’re moving on to the Championship Round, so it was enough. It just wasn’t like I was hoping it would be.

“Today with the water coming up, it threw me off a little bit,” Evers continued. “I’ve been really nervous about the water rising – I need the fish to stay where they’re at and I don’t need them to swim up to the bank. Hopefully tonight they start pulling a little bit of water and we can get it down a bit.

“I want to win this one really, really, really bad and bring this REDCREST trophy home to Oklahoma.”

Fellow Okie Zack Birge of Blanchard also made the cut but was definitely feeling the pressure of SCORETRACKER® as time ticked down.

“It was a stressful day to say the least – I’m still shaking from the last 20 minutes,” said Birge. “Every time my official would make a noise I’d turn around and be like ‘just don’t give me an update, please…’ But it was enough and I’m really happy to move on to the Championship Round.

“The key for me today was just trying to move around and stay with the cleaner water,” Birge said. “If I got in the dirty water, I didn’t get many bites. But I’m throwing something I’m confident in and keeping it in places that I’m confident in getting bit. Hopefully we’ve saved our best day for the last day.”

The full field of anglers competed in the two-day Qualifying Round on Days 1 (Wednesday) and 2 (Thursday) of the event. The field was cut to just the top 20 based on two-day total cumulative weight. The remaining 20 anglers were split into two groups for the Knockout Round – 10 (Group A) competed on Day 3 (Friday) and 10 (Group B) will compete on Day 4 (Saturday). The top five anglers from each group based on total single-day weight will advance to the Championship Round, the fifth and final day of competition (Sunday) where weights are zeroed and the angler that catches the highest total weight on the final day will be crowned the REDCREST 2022 champion and earn the top prize of $300,000.

The top five pros from Group A that made the cut and will advance to Championship Sunday on Grand Lake are:

1^st:          Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., nine bass, 24-0
2^nd:         Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., seven bass, 20-6
3^rd:         Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., six bass, 15-11
4^th:         Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., five bass, 12-13
5^th:         Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., five bass, 12-9

The five pros eliminated from competition Friday are:

6^th:         Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., four bass, 11-0, $10,000
7^th:         Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, three bass, 10-0, $10,000
8^th:         Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., two bass, 9-4, $10,000
9^th:         Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., two bass, 4-15, $10,000
10^th:       James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., one bass, 2-12, $10,000

Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 44 scorable bass weighing 123 pounds, 6 ounces caught by the 10 pros Friday.

Shryock earned Friday’s Berkley Big Bass Award, weighing in a 6-pound, 7-ounce largemouth in Period 1 to win the $1,000 prize. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler that weighs the biggest bass each day, and a $1,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the largest bass of the tournament.

The 10 anglers that will compete in the Group B Knockout Round on Saturday are:
Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn.
Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala.
Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C.
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla.
Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn.
Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala.
Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn.
Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala.
Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark.
Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark.

The General Tire Take Off Ceremony will begin each day at 6:45 a.m. at the Wolf Creek Park and Boating Facility, located at 963 N. 16^th St. in Grove, Oklahoma. Anglers will depart daily at 7:30 a.m. from the park and return after competition ends at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

REDCREST 2022 Presented by Costa at Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees will feature anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

by AnglersChannel

Mississippi State Duo Takes Lead In Bassmaster College Series Event On Lake Norman

Luke Glasgow and James Ikerd of Mississippi State University are leading after Day 1 of the 2022 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Lake Norman presented by Bass Pro Shops with 22 pounds, 7 ounces.
Photo by Kyle Jessie/B.A.S.S.
March 25, 2022

Mississippi State Duo Takes Lead In Bassmaster College Series Event On Lake Norman

CORNELIUS, N.C. — Luke Glasgow was in disbelief. There was no way he and Mississippi State University angling partner James Ikerd just weighed a 22 pound, 7 ounce limit to storm to the Day 1 lead of the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Lake Norman presented by Bass Pro Shops.

And there certainly was no way Glasgow had a personal-best bass in the livewell.

But the duo did, in fact, bring five hefty bass to the scales at Blythe Landing Friday afternoon, including a 7-5 largemouth that was the heaviest of the day and the heaviest ever caught by the 21-year-old engineering major.

“(Ikerd) said ‘That’s an 8- to 10-pounder,’” Glasgow recalled of the mid-afternoon catch. “I thought maybe it was 5 pounds or so. I was shaking so badly, like I’ve never done before in a fishing tournament. No matter what happens here, this place will always be special to me because of that fish.”

The heavy bag was no certainty at lunchtime when the Bulldogs team had four bass in the boat for about 8 pounds. They kept with their junk fishing strategy, though, covering as much water as they could and throwing a variety of lures.

“We had to keep plugging,” Ikerd said. “It finally paid off.”

The team’s fortunes changed when they hooked a pair of 5-pounders shortly after noon. Those upgrades provided the boost of positive energy the duo needed, and they set the tone for Glasgow’s giant later in the day.

His previous best was a 6-9 first caught on Pickwick Lake, a weight he’s matched twice since. And of course, he smashed the PB on Friday.

“We didn’t catch a single keeper yesterday in practice,” said Glasgow, who hails from Guin, Ala. “So, I never imagined we’d have this today. I know I’m talking, but I really am speechless.”

In all, 211 tandems from around the U.S. are competing on this 32,000-acre impoundment of the Catawba River. They’ll all fish again on Saturday, with nearly $9,000 in cash prizes to be awarded. The winning tandem will collect $2,601, or $1300.50 each.

Robert Gee and Chad Sentell of the University of Tennessee are in second place with a 19-3 limit, and Connor Jacob and Sam Smith of Auburn University are third with an 18-1 total. Erskine College of South Carolina holds the fourth and fifth spots – Avery Hammock and Garrett Smith with 17-15 and Jeremy Dellinger and Adam Seagle with 17-12.

The second and final day of the college derby will begin at 7:10 a.m. ET at Blythe Landing. The final weigh-in will take place beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET. Coverage can be found at Bassmaster.com.

2022 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Lake Norman presented by Bass Pro Shops 3/25-3/26
Lake Norman, Cornelius NC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

Angler Club/School Pts

1. Luke Glasgow - James Ikerd Mississippi State University 250
Day 1: 5 22-07 Total: 5 22-07
2. Robert Gee - Chad Sentell University of Tennessee 249
Day 1: 5 19-03 Total: 5 19-03
3. Connor Jacob - Sam Smith Auburn University 248
Day 1: 5 18-01 Total: 5 18-01
4. Avery Hammock - Garrett Smith Erskine College 247
Day 1: 5 17-15 Total: 5 17-15
5. Jeremy Dellinger - Adam Seagle Erskine College 246
Day 1: 5 17-12 Total: 5 17-12
6. Joshua DeKoning - Dalton Mollenkopf Adrian College 245
Day 1: 5 17-01 Total: 5 17-01
7. Peyton Harris - Dalton Head Montevallo 244
Day 1: 5 16-03 Total: 5 16-03
8. Rob Lindsey - Mason Cizek Bryan College 243
Day 1: 5 15-10 Total: 5 15-10
9. Chance Schwartz - James Willoughby University of Montevallo 242
Day 1: 5 15-08 Total: 5 15-08
10. Brody Robison - Jack Alexander University of Montevallo 241
Day 1: 5 15-05 Total: 5 15-05
11. Cody Griffith - Drew Jennings Auburn University 240
Day 1: 5 14-14 Total: 5 14-14
12. Drake Hemby - Carter Koza Carson-Newman University 239
Day 1: 5 14-13 Total: 5 14-13
12. Andrew Thompson - Jacob Swanson Montevallo 239
Day 1: 5 14-13 Total: 5 14-13
14. Nick Pemberton - Brennan Berglund University of Montevallo 237
Day 1: 5 14-11 Total: 5 14-11
15. Colby Kerr - Jonathan Fitch Kentucky Christian University 236
Day 1: 5 14-09 Total: 5 14-09
16. Landon Howe - Makalie King Georgia Southern University 235
Day 1: 5 14-08 Total: 5 14-08
17. Jacob Butts - Mark Kershaw Erskine College 234
Day 1: 5 13-15 Total: 5 13-15
17. Gunner Whitaker - Mitch Johnson Kentucky Christian University 234
Day 1: 5 13-15 Total: 5 13-15
19. Tyler Cory - Scott Sledge University of Montevallo 232
Day 1: 5 13-01 Total: 5 13-01
19. Ryan Thomas - Solomon Glenn University of Montevallo 232
Day 1: 5 13-01 Total: 5 13-01
21. Tyler Lubbat - Hayden O'barr University of Alabama 230
Day 1: 5 13-00 Total: 5 13-00
22. Sam Hanggi - Sam Hoesley Auburn University 229
Day 1: 5 12-15 Total: 5 12-15
22. Brycen Hendriks - Gavin Ange UNC Charlotte 229
Day 1: 5 12-15 Total: 5 12-15
24. Louis Monetti - Michael Fugaro UNC Charlotte 227
Day 1: 5 12-14 Total: 5 12-14
25. Ben Rand - Mason Grossbauer Davenport University 226
Day 1: 5 12-12 Total: 5 12-12
26. Matthew Davis - Bryce Kostman Adrian College 225
Day 1: 5 12-11 Total: 5 12-11
27. Aaron Shumaker - Hunter Enlow Lander University 224
Day 1: 5 12-10 Total: 5 12-10
28. Reece Martin - Mark Harris Dallas Baptist University 223
Day 1: 5 12-09 Total: 5 12-09
29. Grayson Morris - Jacob Pfundt University of Montevallo 222
Day 1: 5 12-08 Total: 5 12-08
29. Max Pierlott - Mike Pierlott UNC Charlotte 222
Day 1: 5 12-08 Total: 5 12-08
31. Brooks Anderson - Parker Guy Emmanuel College 220
Day 1: 5 12-06 Total: 5 12-06
31. Chase Carey - Dylan Akins Emmanuel College 220
Day 1: 5 12-06 Total: 5 12-06
33. Matthew Benson - Nathanael Wright Emmanuel College 218
Day 1: 5 12-03 Total: 5 12-03
34. Will Carnes - Tavin Hodgens campbellsville university 217
Day 1: 5 12-01 Total: 5 12-01
34. Riley Lawson - Chris Baker Kentucky Christian University 217
Day 1: 5 12-01 Total: 5 12-01
36. Dustin Bauer - Wyatt Pearman Campbellsville University 215
Day 1: 5 12-00 Total: 5 12-00
37. Mitchell Gunn - Kyle Kunst Grand Valley State University 214
Day 1: 5 11-13 Total: 5 11-13
38. Cole Hopson - Nicholas Robinson Georgia College 213
Day 1: 5 11-12 Total: 5 11-12
39. Drew Gill - Jonah Potts Wabash Valley College 212
Day 1: 5 11-11 Total: 5 11-11
40. Zach Mcnary - Trenton Penninga Grand Valley State University 211
Day 1: 5 11-10 Total: 5 11-10
41. Brock Williams - Brandon Johnson Ohio State University 210
Day 1: 5 11-07 Total: 5 11-07
42. Robert Cruvellier - Carson Maddux Auburn University 209
Day 1: 5 11-05 Total: 5 11-05
43. Lane Bailey - Justin Eggers Catawba Valley Community College 208
Day 1: 5 11-03 Total: 5 11-03
43. Nathan Smith - Cabe Mackey Catawba Valley Community College 208
Day 1: 5 11-03 Total: 5 11-03
43. Drew Traffanstedt - Dakendrick Patterson University of Montevallo 208
Day 1: 5 11-03 Total: 5 11-03
46. Jacob Highley - Autumn Belcher Kentucky Christian University 205
Day 1: 5 11-01 Total: 5 11-01
46. Nate Lesch - Tennessee Tech University 205
Day 1: 5 11-01 Total: 5 11-01
48. Conner Dimauro - Justin Botts Bryan College 203
Day 1: 5 11-01 Total: 5 11-01
49. Jacob Witkowski - Hunter Jenkins Dallas Baptist Univesity 202
Day 1: 5 10-13 Total: 5 10-13
50. Nolan Yeager - Riley Aebi Stephen F. Austin State Universi 201
Day 1: 5 10-11 Total: 5 10-11
51. Andrew Rickman - Michael Postlewait Dallas Baptist University 200
Day 1: 5 10-10 Total: 5 10-10
52. Lukas Mckinney - Sam Moll Murray State University 199
Day 1: 5 10-09 Total: 5 10-09
52. Alex Richmond - Riley Bowen Grand Valley State University 199
Day 1: 5 10-09 Total: 5 10-09
54. Conner Crosby - James Cobbs Auburn University 197
Day 1: 5 10-08 Total: 5 10-08
55. Matthew Zdrazil - Easton Lindus Emmanuel College 196
Day 1: 5 10-07 Total: 5 10-07
56. Austin Woody - Bryce Fowler East Carolina University 195
Day 1: 5 10-04 Total: 5 10-04
57. Jake Monti - Samuel Dunson UNC Charlotte 194
Day 1: 5 10-03 Total: 5 10-03
58. Tyler Altizer - Dylan Thomson King University 193
Day 1: 5 10-02 Total: 5 10-02
58. Beau Browning - Jake Peck Drury University 193
Day 1: 5 10-02 Total: 5 10-02
58. Nate Triplett - Cy Lambert University of North Alabama 193
Day 1: 5 10-02 Total: 5 10-02
61. Blake Stringer - Colby Joseph Campbellsville University 190
Day 1: 5 10-00 Total: 5 10-00
62. Seth Jenkins - TJ McKenzie Emmanuel College 189
Day 1: 5 09-14 Total: 5 09-14
62. Chase Sansom - Tyler Drown Marshall University 189
Day 1: 5 09-14 Total: 5 09-14
64. Joseph Bissing - Jackson Paden University of Tennessee 187
Day 1: 5 09-12 Total: 5 09-12
64. Hagan Marlin - Tanner English University of Montevallo 187
Day 1: 5 09-12 Total: 5 09-12
66. Lawson Blake - Caden Fuller Marshall University 185
Day 1: 5 09-11 Total: 5 09-11
66. Anthony Ethridge - Trey Carr III Murray State University 185
Day 1: 5 09-11 Total: 5 09-11
68. Hunter Keller - Carson Eckard Catawba Valley Community College 183
Day 1: 5 09-10 Total: 5 09-10
69. Chase Mundhenke - Blake Milligan Auburn University 182
Day 1: 5 09-09 Total: 5 09-09
70. Lafe Messer - Matt Messer Kentucky Christian University 181
Day 1: 5 09-08 Total: 5 09-08
71. Evan Rice - Sawyer Mccullough Troy University 180
Day 1: 5 09-07 Total: 5 09-07
72. Ben Brockwell - Justice Gayhart Kentucky Christian University 179
Day 1: 5 09-06 Total: 5 09-06
72. Austin Goins - Bryan college 179
Day 1: 5 09-06 Total: 5 09-06
74. Jackson Stephens - Maxwell Trotter Mckendree University 177
Day 1: 5 09-05 Total: 5 09-05
75. Logan Bozeman - Andrew Fryer Southern Union State Community C 176
Day 1: 5 09-04 Total: 5 09-04
75. Storm Cline - Ely Dennison Carson-Newman University 176
Day 1: 5 09-04 Total: 5 09-04
77. Stone Payne - Hayden Baxter University of Tennessee- Knoxvil 174
Day 1: 5 09-03 Total: 5 09-03
78. Hunter MCClaskey - King University 173
Day 1: 5 09-02 Total: 5 09-02
78. Logan Pumphrey - Andrew Hadley Indiana South East 173
Day 1: 5 09-02 Total: 5 09-02
80. Dalton Coleman - Joe Bob Burchett Kentucky Christian University 171
Day 1: 3 09-02 Total: 3 09-02
81. Jack York - Jacob Miller stephen f austin state universit 170
Day 1: 5 09-01 Total: 5 09-01
82. Morgan Miracle - Jake Thornbury Campbellsville University 169
Day 1: 5 09-00 Total: 5 09-00
82. Carson Palmer - Cole Rankin Carson-Newman University 169
Day 1: 5 09-00 Total: 5 09-00
84. Sam Harvey - Jordan Brewer Auburn University 167
Day 1: 5 08-15 Total: 5 08-15
84. Tanner Maness - Chandler Ellis Lander University 167
Day 1: 5 08-15 Total: 5 08-15
84. Andrew Ready - Vince Maffei Webber International University 167
Day 1: 5 08-15 Total: 5 08-15
84. Joey Williams - Evan Thomas Liberty University 167
Day 1: 5 08-15 Total: 5 08-15
88. Braedon Metzgar - Hayden Schneider Texas AM University 163
Day 1: 5 08-14 Total: 5 08-14
89. Brock Bila - Dylan Chambers Drury University 162
Day 1: 4 08-14 Total: 4 08-14
90. Walker Brown - Chandler Brewer University of North Alabama 161
Day 1: 5 08-13 Total: 5 08-13
90. Blake Bullock - Blue Mountain College 161
Day 1: 5 08-13 Total: 5 08-13
90. Logan Parks - Tucker Smith Auburn University 161
Day 1: 5 08-13 Total: 5 08-13
90. Bailey Rene - John Phipps Indiana University Southeast 161
Day 1: 5 08-13 Total: 5 08-13
94. Bryant Marsh - Tyler Hill Blue Mountain College 157
Day 1: 5 08-12 Total: 5 08-12
94. Austin Sloan - Mason Cary Illinois State University 157
Day 1: 5 08-12 Total: 5 08-12
96. Brock Lederman - Kyle Schwibinger University of Wisconsin- Stevens 155
Day 1: 5 08-09 Total: 5 08-09
97. Hagen Robinson - Grayson Perkins Western Carolina University 154
Day 1: 5 08-08 Total: 5 08-08
97. Caden Sweeten - Samuel Heichel Bemidji State University 154
Day 1: 5 08-08 Total: 5 08-08
99. Connor Cartmell - Andrew Vereen Coastal Carolina University 152
Day 1: 5 08-07 Total: 5 08-07
99. Jacob Welch - Lee Lambrecht Drury University 152
Day 1: 5 08-07 Total: 5 08-07
101. Turner Hart - Summer Dees Bryan College 150
Day 1: 4 08-07 Total: 4 08-07
102. Alec Berens - Joseph Bruener Mckendree University 149
Day 1: 5 08-06 Total: 5 08-06
102. John Ortman - Emmanuel 149
Day 1: 5 08-06 Total: 5 08-06
104. Elliot Torode - Logan Plueger University of Montevallo 147
Day 1: 5 08-05 Total: 5 08-05
105. Bryar Chambers - Clent Blackwood Wallace State Community College 146
Day 1: 5 08-04 Total: 5 08-04
106. Mark Burnham - Adam Green Greenville University 145
Day 1: 5 08-03 Total: 5 08-03
106. Grant Dohle - Wyatt Montle Missouri State University 145
Day 1: 5 08-03 Total: 5 08-03
106. Whit Edmonds - Julia Levister Lander University 145
Day 1: 5 08-03 Total: 5 08-03
106. Cole Thompson - John Heacock University of North Alabama 145
Day 1: 5 08-03 Total: 5 08-03
110. Cole Taylor - Hunter Temples Lander 141
Day 1: 4 08-03 Total: 4 08-03
111. Parker Lambert - Koby Horn Lander university 140
Day 1: 5 08-01 Total: 5 08-01
112. Andrew Mega - Brennan Kenison UNC CHARLOTTE 139
Day 1: 5 08-00 Total: 5 08-00
113. Weston Hollar - Jordan Pennington University of Montevallo 138
Day 1: 4 08-00 Total: 4 08-00
114. Brady Duncan - Stevie Mills Carson-Newman University 137
Day 1: 5 07-15 Total: 5 07-15
114. Seth Elkins - Dale Hansard Jacksonville State University 137
Day 1: 5 07-15 Total: 5 07-15
114. Connor Hicks - Austin Wadzinski University of Tennessee 137
Day 1: 5 07-15 Total: 5 07-15
114. Kyle Knoll - Luke Morgan Southern Union State Community C 137
Day 1: 5 07-15 Total: 5 07-15
118. Garrett Thompson - Ethan Perry West Virginia University 133
Day 1: 4 07-15 Total: 4 07-15
119. Steve Kinard - Jimmy Mitchum Lander University 132
Day 1: 5 07-13 Total: 5 07-13
120. JD Clarke - Hunter Muncrief Stephen F Austin State Universit 131
Day 1: 5 07-12 Total: 5 07-12
121. Cj Jobe - James Stillwell Western Carolina University 130
Day 1: 4 07-12 Total: 4 07-12
122. Cole Holloway - Taylor Mcmullen Emmanuel College 129
Day 1: 5 07-11 Total: 5 07-11
122. Conner Johnson - Jake Thomas Georgetown college 129
Day 1: 5 07-11 Total: 5 07-11
124. Sam Schmitz - Braden Lewis University of North Alabama 127
Day 1: 5 07-10 Total: 5 07-10
125. Nathan Burdett - Andrew Davis Troy University 126
Day 1: 5 07-09 Total: 5 07-09
125. Brodie Curvin - Connor Handley wallace state 126
Day 1: 5 07-09 Total: 5 07-09
125. Bo Thomas - Mason Vernia Western Michigan University 126
Day 1: 5 07-09 Total: 5 07-09
125. Ben Tschoerner - Chance Thompson Stephen F Austin State Universit 126
Day 1: 5 07-09 Total: 5 07-09
129. Shane Nelson - Aaron Jagdfeld Adrian College 122
Day 1: 5 07-07 Total: 5 07-07
130. Adam Troyer - Andrew Yazdi Indiana University 121
Day 1: 5 07-06 Total: 5 07-06
131. Bailey Mckinney - Levi Smith Marshall University 120
Day 1: 5 07-05 Total: 5 07-05
131. Adrian Urso - Corbin Templon Murray State University 120
Day 1: 5 07-05 Total: 5 07-05
133. Ryan Boggs - Hayden Fuhr Lander 118
Day 1: 5 07-03 Total: 5 07-03
133. Anderson Jones - Lander University 118
Day 1: 5 07-03 Total: 5 07-03
135. Hunter Bailey - JR Young Jr Jacksonville State University 116
Day 1: 4 07-03 Total: 4 07-03
135. Kaden Liles - Hunter Lepping University of North Alabama 116
Day 1: 4 07-03 Total: 4 07-03
135. Brian Linder - Nathan Thompson Minnesota State - Mankato 116
Day 1: 4 07-03 Total: 4 07-03
138. Chris Drum - Kaleb Davis Lenoir Rhyne University 113
Day 1: 5 07-02 Total: 5 07-02
138. Easton Fothergill - Nick Dumke University of Montevallo 113
Day 1: 5 07-02 Total: 5 07-02
140. Ryan Park - Samuel Niemeyer Murray State University 111
Day 1: 4 07-02 Total: 4 07-02
141. John Sells - Cooper Hesling Georgia Southern University 110
Day 1: 5 07-01 Total: 5 07-01
142. Caleb Bridges - Jacob Davidson bryan college 109
Day 1: 4 07-00 Total: 4 07-00
142. Braden Cox - Joel Berelsman Ohio State 109
Day 1: 4 07-00 Total: 4 07-00
144. Kyle Dillon - Kolby Kindley Western Carolina University 107
Day 1: 5 06-14 Total: 5 06-14
145. Brandon Martin - Emmanuel College 106
Day 1: 4 06-14 Total: 4 06-14
146. Weston Bison - Austin Gregory Lander University 105
Day 1: 4 06-13 Total: 4 06-13
147. Britt Myers - Tyler Anderson Lander University 104
Day 1: 5 06-12 Total: 5 06-12
148. Zach Cruze - Daniel Schroeder Murray state 103
Day 1: 4 06-12 Total: 4 06-12
148. Tyler Finley - Lane Lassiter University of North Alabama 103
Day 1: 4 06-12 Total: 4 06-12
150. Wesley Smith - Grant Harris Catawba Valley Community College 101
Day 1: 4 06-09 Total: 4 06-09
151. Brock Blazier - Matthew Wilson Southern union state community c 100
Day 1: 4 06-08 Total: 4 06-08
152. Lucas Smith - Dalton Mize Jacksonville State University 99
Day 1: 3 06-08 Total: 3 06-08
153. Caleb Sheldon - Chase Beale Lander University 98
Day 1: 4 06-06 Total: 4 06-06
154. Caleb Jacob - Illinois State University 97
Day 1: 4 06-04 Total: 4 06-04
155. Josh Rouse - Avery Doughty Carson-Newman University 96
Day 1: 2 06-04 Total: 2 06-04
156. Cameron Dials - Jonathan Fraley Kentucky Christian University 95
Day 1: 3 05-15 Total: 3 05-15
157. Isaac Irvin - Mason Gross wabash valley college 94
Day 1: 3 05-10 Total: 3 05-10
157. Hunter Waldrop - Reese Melven University of South Carolina 94
Day 1: 3 05-10 Total: 3 05-10
159. Blair Cox - Zach Adamec Missouri State University 92
Day 1: 4 05-08 Total: 4 05-08
160. Brantley Anders - Will Rooker Kentucky Christian University 91
Day 1: 3 05-08 Total: 3 05-08
161. Evan Barker - Lane Pohlman Campbellsville University 90
Day 1: 4 05-02 Total: 4 05-02
162. Calvin Landsberg - Jack Palaia University of Alabama 89
Day 1: 3 04-14 Total: 3 04-14
163. Spencer Black - Caleb Lonca Catawba Valley Community College 88
Day 1: 2 04-13 Total: 2 04-13
164. John Garrett Pearson - Rudy Pearson IV Georgia College 87
Day 1: 3 04-12 Total: 3 04-12
165. Will Lutes - Jacob Middleton Ohio State University 86
Day 1: 4 04-11 Total: 4 04-11
166. Thomas Mingle - Nathan Couch Univerity of Tennessee 85
Day 1: 3 04-11 Total: 3 04-11
166. Haydan Quesenberry - Ryan Diskin Auburn University 85
Day 1: 3 04-11 Total: 3 04-11
168. Garrett Huddleston - Riley Voltz Auburn University 83
Day 1: 3 04-10 Total: 3 04-10
169. Matthew Pufahl - Alex Ripplinger Bemidji State University 82
Day 1: 3 04-08 Total: 3 04-08
170. Thomas Mcelwaney - Colby Mason Georgia Southern University 81
Day 1: 2 04-08 Total: 2 04-08
171. Riley Underwood - Chandler Olivier University of Montevallo 80
Day 1: 3 04-04 Total: 3 04-04
172. Austin Smith - Jacob Lambert Carson-Newman University 79
Day 1: 2 03-15 Total: 2 03-15
173. Owen Januszewski - Nick Owens Adrian College 78
Day 1: 3 03-13 Total: 3 03-13
174. Kyle Kreger - Elliott Pritchett Southern Illinois University Car 77
Day 1: 2 03-13 Total: 2 03-13
175. Eion Patterson - Nathan King UNC Charlotte 76
Day 1: 2 03-11 Total: 2 03-11
176. James Romig - Colton Morris Florida Gateway College 75
Day 1: 3 03-09 Total: 3 03-09
177. Garrett Warren - Hayden Marbut Auburn University 74
Day 1: 2 03-08 Total: 2 03-08
178. Victor Alford - Dylan Johnson bryan college 73
Day 1: 2 03-06 Total: 2 03-06
179. Landon Brown - Maycee Lyons Morehead State University 72
Day 1: 2 03-05 Total: 2 03-05
180. Emily Freeman - Cole Hadlock Murray State University 71
Day 1: 2 02-15 Total: 2 02-15
181. Andrew Pittman - East Carolina University 70
Day 1: 1 02-15 Total: 1 02-15
182. Ben Hutchins - Clay Burch North Carolina State University 69
Day 1: 2 02-12 Total: 2 02-12
183. Jordan Turner - Davian Smith University of Montevallo 68
Day 1: 2 02-11 Total: 2 02-11
184. Christopher Kistler - Malcolm Patton Calhoun Community College 67
Day 1: 3 02-09 Total: 3 02-09
185. Gavin Clevenger - Chase Hastings Carson-Newman University 66
Day 1: 1 02-09 Total: 1 02-09
186. Blayner Leeman - Noah Hurford Kentucky Christian University 65
Day 1: 2 02-08 Total: 2 02-08
187. Nicholas Owens - Jeff Thomas Ohio State University 64
Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01
188. Chris Brooks - David Bartlett Greenville University 63
Day 1: 1 01-14 Total: 1 01-14
189. Ethan Vue - Colton Kentopp University of North Carolina at 62
Day 1: 1 01-13 Total: 1 01-13
190. Austin Marley - Noah Simmons Georgia Southern University 61
Day 1: 1 01-08 Total: 1 01-08
191. Lane Bradley - Holden Kauble Wabash Valley College 60
Day 1: 1 01-06 Total: 1 01-06
191. Austin Curry - Milton Johnston III Lenoir Rhyne University 60
Day 1: 1 01-06 Total: 1 01-06
193. Harrison Heins - Luke Fraley Tennessee Tech University 58
Day 1: 1 01-05 Total: 1 01-05
194. Daniel Cosby - Kendale Utter Coastal Carolina University 57
Day 1: 1 01-04 Total: 1 01-04
194. Clay Henderson - Zachary Ward Drury University 57
Day 1: 1 01-04 Total: 1 01-04
194. Nick Staub - Lake Norsworthy Blue Mountain College 57
Day 1: 1 01-04 Total: 1 01-04
197. Isaac Carlson - Blaine Mattingly Campbellsville University 54
Day 1: 1 01-03 Total: 1 01-03
197. Cameron Lake - Hunter Luke University of Alabama 54
Day 1: 1 01-03 Total: 1 01-03
199. John Pope - Walker Leslie UNC Charlotte 52
Day 1: 2 00-02 Total: 2 00-02
200. Logan Anderson - Tyler Little North Carolina State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
200. Dawson Burton - Trent Keltner Kentucky Christian University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
200. Jacob Conyers - Spencer Pergrem Morehead State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
200. Parker Domschke - Harper Burkeen McKendree University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
200. Patrick Henry - Jared Minor Ohio State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
200. Noah Jones - Chance Konrad Coastal Carolina University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
200. Jake Kimbrough - Chandler Pruett Blue Mountain College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
200. Camdon Lewis - TJ Edwards Jr Blue Mountain College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
200. Lucas Oliver - Nathan Dellinger Catawba Valley Community College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
200. Jacob Silver - Ben Bales Western Carolina University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
200. Cameron Smith - Jacob Blackburn Ohio State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
200. Elijah Walker - Jess Taylor AUBURN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 132 842 1700-00
----------------------------------
132 842 1700-00

by AnglersChannel

REDCREST Rewards - Costa Compete + Conserve

Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships

GROVE, Okla. – There wasn’t an abundant amount of sunshine on Grand Lake throughout the first two days of REDCREST 2022 presented by Costa, but today the sun crested the east horizon without a cloud in the sky and this weekend calls for better, more springlike weather. Even the sun has been largely absent, sunglasses haven’t been far from the 41 competing anglers’ minds this week both literally and figuratively thanks to the Costa Compete + Conserve contingency program.

Compete + Conserve rewards the highest finishing angler wearing Costa shades in any supported tournament with a cash bonus (or prize package). The payout for REDCREST is an incredible $7,500 to the angler who finishes the highest on Sunday along with an additional $1,000 being donated to one of five conservation partners of the anglers’ choosing.

The conservation component of this one-of-a-kind contingency program is included for every single sanctioned tournament whether it’s the Bass Pro Tour, a team tournament trail, or high school and college fishing. Bass Pro Tour standout Ott DeFoetook home the REDCREST rewards in 2021 and is a huge proponent of what Compete + Conserve stands for.

“It’s great to see an industry leader like Costa put together a program like Compete + Conserve,” said DeFoe. “Not only do anglers get paid to wear the best sunglasses on the water, but you support groups looking after our rivers, lakes, and reservoirs in the process. That’s what makes this program truly special.”

To make things even better, Costa recently added over 200+ grassroots events to Compete + Conserve, so there are more opportunities to take part than ever. The program is 100% free to register for, you just need to own a pair of Costas and compete in an eligible tournament.

For more information on the program, a full list of supported tournaments, or to get yourself registered before you hit the water this weekend click this link - https://www.costacompeteandconserve.com/ or shoot [email protected] an email.

by AnglersChannel

KVD at REDCREST: Gracious and giving in defeat

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships

Thursday afternoon brought an end to Kevin VanDam’s 2022 MLF REDCREST competition because the Grand Lake he loves, and has twice claimed victory on, just didn’t seem to love him back this week.

“I’m pretty perplexed and super disappointed to be honest,” said VanDam, while stowing his tackle at the Wolf Creek boat ramp in preparation for the 90-mile drive back to Tulsa. “Everything that seemed like it should work, based on my experience here, just never really materialized. It’s definitely frustrating,” he added.

But even amid the frustration and perplexion of defeat, VanDam was kind and gracious to fans and media gathered near his boat in the parking lot, as he smiled for cell phone photos, autographed hats, and provided thoughtful insight during interviews. Plus, he has big plans to generously give back to the Northeast Oklahoma community this weekend.

Q: What surprised you most about the way Grand Lake fished this week?

KVD: Not only how fast the water rose after the rain hit Monday, but also that the water didn’t get muddy in the mid-lake region I was fishing. In my mind, it actually got cleaner as it rose. So instead of the bass pushing shallower to the shoreline, like I thought they would, they just never did.

Q: Show us the two lures you used most during Wednesday and Thursday’s competition.

KVD: You bet. Grand Lake has a ton of shad. So as long as I was seeing balls of shad on my Humminbird MEGA Live screen, then I felt like I was around feeding bass. So, I threw a Strike King Series 3 crankbait on 12-pound fluorocarbon in sexy shad, and a Strike King 300 series jerkbait, also in sexy shad.

Q: What was the primary pattern you tried to execute on Grand this week?

KVD: I was targeting secondary points in the creeks of the mid-lake region, and also the creek channel swings inside pockets.

Q: The whole week featured cold air, rain, and a ton of cloud cover, but I noticed you still wear sunglasses. Why is that?

KVD: Because even on really cloudy days the Sunrise Silver Mirror lenses in my Costas allow for more light transmission, which really lightens things up on dark cloudy days, which allows me to see little changes in water clarity and shallow water targets better.

Q: What are some of the details of the generous plans Sherry and you have planned for the Northeastern Oklahoma community this weekend?

KVD: Yep, we have a really fun fan appreciation prize giveaway in the Nitro Boats booth at the REDCREST Expo inside Tulsa’s SageNet Center all three days of the show. We’re calling it the “Blast Off. Cast Off.” They’ll be $15,000 worth of gift cards and merchandise fans can sign up to win, but you have to be present to win.

Plus, I’m really excited about the grant money we are giving away through the Kevin VanDam Foundation to fund three different projects that will ultimately fund habitat restoration and the stocking of F-1 strain largemouth bass in Grand Lake.

by AnglersChannel

Michael Neal Tops Qualifying Round of Major League Fishing’s REDCREST 2022 Presented by Costa Sunglasses on Grand Lake

Oklahoma Pros Edwin Evers (2^nd), Zack Birge (3^rd) and James Elam (19^th) all Advance in Top 20 – 10 Fish Friday, 10 Fish Saturday, Top Five from Each Group Compete on Championship Sunday

TULSA, Okla. (March 24, 2022) – Bass Pro Tour angler Michael Neal of Dayton, Tennessee, weighed in a two-day total of 20 bass weighing 57 pounds, 7 ounces to win the Qualifying Round of the Major League Fishing (MLF) REDCREST 2022 presented by Costa Sunglasses, the Bass Pro Tour championship, on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees. Neal narrowly edged out two Oklahoma favorites – Talala’s Edwin Evers, who weighed in 17 bass for 55-8 to end the round in second place, and Blanchard’s Zack Birge, who boated 15 scorable bass for 47-8, good for third.

The field is now cut to 20, and weights are zeroed as competition moves into the Knockout Round. A field of 10 anglers (Group A) will compete on Friday and the remaining 10 anglers (Group B) will compete Saturday. The top five anglers from each day advance to the fifth and final day of competition, Championship Sunday. The five-day event, hosted by Tulsa Regional Tourism, features anglers competing for a total purse of $730,000, including a top cash prize of $300,000 to the winner.

“Well, the top of the leaderboard is a good place to be,” said Neal, who is competing in his third career REDCREST championship and finished second in the event last year. “I would have rather finished in second or third, because that would mean I would be fishing tomorrow. But I’m going to enjoy my day off tomorrow and get ready to get back out there on Saturday.

“Today was totally unexpected – I totally changed from yesterday,” the Tennessee pro continued. “Yesterday was all about cranking. Today was all about finding the suspended fish that were out chasing bait. I found one little area that had a lot of fish on it. I caught them on a Damiki rig, using a 3/8-ounce Big Bite (Baits) Swimmer head with a ¾-inch Big Bite (Baits) Jerk Minnow.”

Although Neal spent his day chasing the suspended fish chasing bait, it was mainly because he wanted to conserve his other areas for the Knockout and Championship Rounds.

“I was worried about those fish. I wasn’t sure I could go down there and catch one. They were there, and they’ve been there since practice started (last Sunday). So, I feel like one extra day won’t hurt them too bad and hopefully they’re still there Saturday and Sunday for the Championship Round.”

The top 20 pros that made the Qualifying Round cut and will advance in competition on Grand Lake are:

1^st:          Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 20 bass, 57-7
2^nd:         Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 17 bass, 55-8
3^rd:         Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 15 bass, 47-8
4^th:         Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., 14 bass, 43-14
5^th:         Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 12 bass, 40-6
6^th:         Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 14 bass, 39-13
7^th:         Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 12 bass, 38-2
8^th:         Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 12 bass, 36-5
9^th:         Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., 12 bass, 36-0
10^th:       Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., 11 bass, 35-11
11^th:       Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 34-1
12^th:       Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 11 bass, 33-12
13^th:       Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 10 bass, 33-11
14^th:       Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 10 bass, 32-10
15^th:       Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., 11 bass, 32-3
16^th:       Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., eight bass, 29-3
17^th:       Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 10 bass, 28-12
18^th:       Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 10 bass, 28-8
19^th:       James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 10 bass, 28-4
20^th:       Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., nine bass, 27-12

Finishing in 21^st through 41^st are:

21^st:       Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 10 bass, 27-7, $5,000
22^nd:      Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, nine bass, 27-6, $5,000
23^rd:      Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., seven bass, 25-5, $5,000
24^th:       Brent Chapman, Lenexa, Kan., nine bass, 25-1, $5,000
25^th:       Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., nine bass, 24-2, $5,000
26^th:       Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., eight bass, 22-14, $5,000
27^th:       Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., seven bass, 21-15, $5,000
28^th:       David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., eight bass, 20-7, $5,000
29^th:       Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, seven bass, 20-2, $5,000
30^th:       Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, six bass, 20-1, $5,000
31^st:       Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., seven bass, 19-10, $5,000
32^nd:      Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., seven bass, 19-1, $5,000
33^rd:      Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., seven bass, 18-13, $5,000
34^th:       Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., six bass, 16-12, $5,000
35^th:       Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala., six bass, 16-4, $5,000
36^th:       Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., five bass, 15-9, $5,000
37^th:       Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 15-8, $5,000
38^th:       Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., three bass, 12-9, $5,000
39^th:       Shin Fukae, Osaka, Japan, four bass, 11-12, $5,000
40^th:       John Cox, DeBary, Fla., three bass, 11-12, $5,000
41^st:       Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., four bass, 9-13, $5,000

Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 162 scorable bass weighing 489 pounds, 10 ounces caught by 37 pros Thursday.

Favorite Fishing pro Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama, won Thursday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award, weighing in a 5-pound, 12-ounce largemouth during Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler that weighs the biggest bass each day, and a $1,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the largest bass of the tournament.

All 41 Anglers competed on Days 1 (Wednesday) and 2 (Thursday) of the event. After two days of competition, the field is now cut to just the top 20 based on two-day total cumulative weight. The remaining 20 anglers are split into two groups – 10 in Group A compete on Day 3 (Friday) and 10 in Group B compete on Day 4 (Saturday). The top five anglers from each group based on total single-day weight will advance to the fifth and final day of competition (Sunday), where weights are zeroed and the angler that catches the highest total weight on the final day will be crowned the REDCREST 2022 champion.

The 10 anglers that will compete in the Group A Knockout Round on Friday are:
Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla.
Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla.
Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C.
Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan
Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash.
Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala.
Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn.
Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky.
Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C.
James Elam, Tulsa, Okla.

Proud sponsors of the MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, BallyBet, Bass Cat, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Covercraft, Favorite Fishing, Garmin, General Tire, Googan Baits, Grundéns, Guaranteed Rate, Humminbird, Lowrance, Luminox, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Nitro Performance Boats, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Power Stop, Rapala, Starbrite, Toro, Toyota, Wrangler, Yellowstone Bourbon and Zoom.

by AnglersChannel

Bass Will Have Spawning On Their Minds During Bassmaster Southern Open At Cherokee

Tennessee's Cherokee Lake will host the St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open presented by Mossy Oak Fishing March 31-April 2, 2022.

Photo by Shane Durrance/B.A.S.S.

March 24, 2022

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Tenn. — With spring water temperatures rising faster than usual, Bassmaster Elite Series pro David Mullins believes there will be plenty of bass caught during the 2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open at Cherokee Lake presented by Mossy Oak Fishing.

But finding a few quality bites will be the key to catching the winning bag.

“Everybody is going to have 10 to 13 pounds,” the East Tennessee native said. “A 4-pounder goes a long way on this lake. It is almost like fishing a New York smallmouth fishery. The weights are so tight. There are so many 2 to 2 3/4-pound fish that everyone can catch. It is just a matter of separating yourself with a big one or two.”

Competition days will be March 31-April 2. Anglers will take off from Cherokee TVA Dam Boat Launch each day at 7 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. The Top 10 boaters after Day 2 will advance to the championship round while the co-angler champion will be crowned at the conclusion of the Day 2 weigh-in. Full coverage can be found on Bassmaster.com.

The Holston River impoundment stretches 59 miles through the hills of East Tennessee and covers around 30,000 acres. Made up of mostly rock structures, Cherokee features all three species of bass, with largemouth and smallmouth making the most impact on tournament results.

“The only thing Cherokee has is rock and mud. There is nothing else,” Mullins said. “Usually one side of the lake will be flat and the other side has a bluff. There’s not a tremendous amount of cover you have to go through. No grass or standing timber and very little brush.”

Cherokee Lake has hosted several Bassmaster events, including an Elite Series event in 2017, a College Series event in 2018 and most recently a Bassmaster Open in 2020.

During 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the event until the end of October and current Elite Series angler Matt Robertson claimed the trophy with 40-12. The bass caught during that fall event were largely found in deeper water, some as deep as 30 and 40 feet.

That will likely not be the case this time around, as warm weather will be coaxing the bass to the shallows to spawn, according to Mullins.

“This historically will be a prespawn bite. But as warm as I’ve seen it already, the water temperature is in the mid- to upper 50s, there is a high chance it will be all spawn when (anglers) get there. The bass will be really close to where they want to spawn, whether that is in pockets or just off the channel in the flats. There may even be some postspawn.”

With very little cover in the lake, Mullins said the bass will spawn on different types of rock structure, whether that is bigger rocks, pea gravel or slate banks. He added that smallmouth and largemouth can be found close to the same areas and don’t have much separation in their spawns.

“The largemouth tend to be in the pockets and creeks, whereas smallmouth tend to be close to the main channel. But with it being this time of the year, they will be in the same areas,” Mullins said.

With gizzard and threadfin shad being the main forage in the lake, Mullins said he expects topwaters, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and other moving baits to play a big factor for prespawn bass while shaky heads and drop shots have been historically productive for spawners.

With the water rising pretty much every day during the spring months, anglers will likely not be able to see the bass on their beds.

Mullins expects it will take around 16 pounds a day to take home the trophy.

With one Southern Open completed at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, Tennessee native Brandon Lester leads both the Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year race and Southern Opens standings with 200 points, followed by Joey Cifuentes III (199) and Tom Frink (198).

by AnglersChannel

Edwin Evers Leads Day 1 of Major League Fishing’s REDCREST 2022 Presented by Costa Sunglasses

Oklahoma Superstar Catches 13 Bass Weighing 39 Pounds, 11 ounces to Pace Field on Day 1, Full field of 41 Anglers to Compete Again Thursday

TULSA, Okla. (March 23, 2022) – A field of the top 41 pro anglers from the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour descended on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees Wednesday morning for Day 1 of MLF’s REDCREST 2022 presented by Costa Sunglasses, the Bass Pro Tour championship. The five-day event, hosted by Tulsa Regional Tourism , features anglers competing for a total purse of $730,000, including a top cash prize of $300,000 to the winner.

After the final fish had been tallied on the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard, local bass-fishing superstar Edwin Evers of Talala, Oklahoma, sits atop the leaderboard with 13 bass totaling 39 pounds, 11 ounces. Right behind Evers in second and third place are the two anglers many consider to be the hottest on the planet at the moment – Dayton, Tennessee’s Michael Neal, who boated 12 bass totaling 35-10 – and Academy Sports + Outdoors pro Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, who caught nine bass for 29-14.

Competition will continue Thursday, as the 41 anglers will again catch as much weight as possible before the field is cut to the top 20 after competition concludes tomorrow.

“I’m really happy with how the day turned out,” said Evers, who won the inaugural REDCREST championship in 2019 and is seeking to become the first angler to ever win two. “I focused on jerkbaiting in 6 to 15 feet of water. I didn’t lose any fish today, and my plan all seemed to come together.”

Evers said that he threw one jerkbait on two different setups. He used a Berkley Stunna 112, one with 10-pound-test fluorocarbon line, and one with 12-pound-test fluorocarbon line. He threw them on a Johnny Morris 6-foot, 8-inch medium-action rod with a high speed 8:3:1 gear ratio reel.

“The big key for me today was watching the bait on my (Lowrance) ActiveTarget to know what depth I needed to keep my jerkbait in when I got near the structure,” Evers said. “And they’re still biting the jerkbait, which I like. I was kind of afraid they were getting off of that bite.

“I feel like if I can catch just a couple of more fish tomorrow, I should be safe and moving into the Knockout Round,” Evers went on to say. “I’ve got a couple of areas that I found in practice that I didn’t touch today, so we’ll find out how good those spots are. I feel really good about this event so far and I am looking forward to getting back out here.”

The standings after Day 1 on Grand Lake are:

1^st:          Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 13 bass, 39-11
2^nd:         Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 12 bass, 35-10
3^rd:         Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., nine bass, 29-14
4^th:         Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., nine bass, 27-12
5^th:         Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., nine bass, 27-2
6^th:         Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., eight bass, 26-12
7^th:         Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., nine bass, 24-14
8^th:         Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, six bass, 21-3
9^th:         Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., six bass, 20-15
10^th:       Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., seven bass, 20-4
11^th:       Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., seven bass, 19-9
12^th:       David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., seven bass, 18-6
13^th:       Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., five bass, 17-12
14^th:       Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., six bass, 16-6
15^th:       Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., five bass, 16-6
16^th:       Brent Chapman, Lenexa, Kan., five bass, 16-0
17^th:       Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 15-8
18^th:       Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., four bass, 14-15
19^th:       Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, four bass, 14-6
20^th:       Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., five bass, 14-5
21^st:       Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 13-13
22^nd:      Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., five bass, 12-10
23^rd:      James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., four bass, 12-10
24^th:       Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., four bass, 12-10
25^th:       Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., three bass, 12-9
26^th:       Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, four bass, 12-8
27^th:       Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., four bass, 12-6
28^th:       Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., three bass, 11-12
29^th:       John Cox, DeBary, Fla., three bass, 11-12
30^th:       Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., four bass, 11-3
31^st:       Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., five bass, 10-9
32^nd:      Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., three bass, 10-9
33^rd:      Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., three bass, 10-2
34^th:       Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., three bass, 9-0
35^th:       Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, three bass, 8-13
36^th:       Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., three bass, 8-12
37^th:       Shin Fukae, Osaka, Japan, three bass, 8-0
38^th:       Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., three bass, 7-13
39^th:       Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., three bass, 7-10
40^th:       Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala., two bass, 5-3
41^st:       Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., two bass, 4-10

A complete list of results can be found each day at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 213 scorable bass weighing 652 pounds, 8 ounces caught by the 41 pros Monday.

Wheeler caught a 6-pound, 10-ounce bass in Period 2, throwing a jerkbait near boat docks to earn the day’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $1,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

All 41 Anglers compete on Days 1 (Wednesday) and 2 (Thursday) of the event. After two days of competition, the field is cut to just the top 20 based on two-day total cumulative weight. The remaining 20 anglers are split into two groups – 10 compete on Day 3 (Friday) and 10 compete on Day 4 (Saturday). The top five anglers from each group based on total single-day weight will advance to the fifth and final day of competition (Sunday), where weights are zeroed and the angler that catches the highest total weight on the final day will be crowned the REDCREST 2022 champion.

Proud sponsors of the MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, BallyBet, Bass Cat, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Covercraft, Favorite Fishing, Garmin, General Tire, Googan Baits, Grundéns, Guaranteed Rate, Humminbird, Lowrance, Luminox, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Nitro Performance Boats, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Power Stop, Rapala, Starbrite, Toro, Toyota, Wrangler, Yellowstone Bourbon and Zoom.

by AnglersChannel

Jordan Lee Ready for a Marathon

Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships

GROVE, Okla. – Jordan Lee looked about as calm as he could be this morning just a few minutes before blast-off for the 2022 REDCREST presented by Costa on Grand Lake in northeast Oklahoma. As he pulled a few of his signature series Jordan Lee Baitcast combos out of his rod locker, you could tell the 31-year-old bass fishing phenom was taking it all in and remaining focused.

“Today and tomorrow (Thursday) are all about staying above that cut line and surviving,” Lee said. “I’m just trying to make the first cut to fish on Friday with a smaller field. That’s when it all starts to go down. This tournament will be a marathon, not a sprint.”

The full field of 41-anglers will be on the water during the first two days of competition this week. When Lines Out signals on Thursday afternoon, the bottom 21-pros will be headed to the Expo in Tulsa and the remaining 20-anglers will be split into two groups of ten to fish Friday and Saturday, respectively.

Lee said his practice didn’t go extremely well, but it also didn’t go poorly. With just two days of practice to break down the 41,000+ acre behemoth that is Grand Lake, J. Lee wasn’t stressing the things that were out of his control.

“I got a few bites each afternoon (of practice) and feel like I know what type of rock I’m looking for,” Lee explained. “I’m just hoping I can get a few bites early to calm me down a little bit and get the momentum building. The mornings have been tough for me during practice so getting off to a decent start would be great. Either way I’m going to cover water and just keep fishing… that’s all you can do.”

The baits Lee lined out on the front deck of his boat would make any old-school angler smile. Big black and blue jigs threaded with meaty Berkley chunk trailers, a few different crankbaits like the Frittside, and a couple of big-bladed spinnerbaits. Lee has proven countless times throughout his career he can catch fish with any technique or technology, but he’s not afraid to admit he favors the old-school.

With air temperatures in the mid 30s, spitting rain, and a howling northwest wind Lee knew this first day of competition played into his power fishing prowess. To combat the cold Lee started the morning bundled up in about every layer of Carhartt gear he brought to Oklahoma.

He’s a big fan of the Base Force layers Carhartt offers and said they are key to staying warm and focused in frigid conditions. Lee’s second secret to staying warm came in the form of family medicine via his wife and 5-month year old son.

“With that wind blowing in my face I was struggling to shake the cold from my brain this morning until I saw Kristen and Baker walking down the dock… that’ll warm you up,” Lee said with a big smile.

Lee hasn’t lit up the Scoretracker like he’d like to today, but he’s caught enough to hang around the cut-line and is keeping pace for the marathon he’s been preparing for.

by AnglersChannel

Fully Loaded Chew Announces Fully Loaded Cinnamon 4mg Nicotine White Pouches!

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by AnglersChannel

KVD at REDCREST: Mental focus, hand warmers, and a lotta gloves

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin / Dynamic Sponsorships

Even after 32 years of competitive bass angling, Kevin VanDam admits he spent a large portion of Tuesday night tossing and turning in a downtown Tulsa hotel room as his mind raced with thoughts of how to attack Day 1 of REDCREST on Grand Lake amid 38-degree air temps, spitting rain, and a ripping north wind.

“I said that Monday’s final day of practice featured weather for the ducks. Well today might be better suited for geese,” grinned the always classy pro from Kalamazoo.

But don’t think for a minute Northeastern Oklahoma’s raw weather had him defeated before the first cast.

Razor sharp mental focus

“Conditions like this make the mental part of this sport super important. You have to accept the weather conditions for what they are, do what you gotta do to stay warm, and believe with razor focus that the next cast is going to produce a bite,” says VanDam.

It’s about a 90-minute drive from his hotel in Tulsa to the boat ramp on Grand, and VanDam says he never even turned on the radio in his 2022 Toyota Tundra. Instead, choosing to spend the 95-mile commute thinking about wind direction, lure selection, and focusing on shorelines that should produce bites on a raw Wednesday morning.

Gotta have a lotta gloves

A huge part of VanDam’s success in staying warm is packing plenty of thin gloves in his Nitro. He’s got six pair in the boat with him Wednesday. When one pair gets wet, he takes them off, and trades for dry ones.

He also keeps a long-lasting air activated Hot Hands Mossy Oak camo hand warmer fired-up in the pocket of his jacket to grab hold of throughout the day.

What KVD says fans should watch for on Day 1 –

“Pay attention to the guys who get on a decent roll in the first couple hours of the day. In the MLF format, especially in these weather conditions, getting off to a good start will be pretty critical. But I’ll also say, the fishing should get better as the air temps warm up a little throughout the day,” says the Team Toyota angler.

As of 9:30 a.m. Grand Lake time, two hours into REDCREST competition, VanDam’s intense mental focus, handwarmers, and dry gloves had him sitting solidly inside the Top 10.

by AnglersChannel

The One that Got Away.....

This week Chris & the boys welcome in Santee Elite Series Runner-up Caleb Kuphall to the show to talk about his Centruy Club achievement and find out what happened on day two of that derbs.... Check it out!

by AnglersChannel

Oxbow Bassin'

With a background in fisheries biology, guiding and tournament angling, Terry Bates is eminently qualified to show us around Lake Washington, a Delta region oxbow lake just a cannon shot from the Mississippi River and about 20 minutes south of Greenville, MS.

by AnglersChannel

Ashley Talks Weather, Weights, and Whereabouts for REDCREST

Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships

GROVE, Okla. – Practice has concluded on Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees for the REDCREST presented by Costa and the 41-competing anglers have Tuesday “off” outside of a few championship festivities. A “day off” just a few hours before the start of biggest tournament of the year is actually filled with final tackle prep, countless interviews and media obligations.
Walking through the boat yard today, the excitement and nervous energy is palpable.

Casey Ashley is no stranger to championship events and has a knack for staying even-keeled regardless of the anticipation around him. Ashley offered a few of his main takeaways from practice and themes of this tournament.

Whereabouts

When Ashley launched his boat for the first day of practice Sunday morning, finding where not to fish was number one on his priority list.

“Grand is a lake where you can run a pattern once you get a few bites and get some confidence,” Ashley explained. “But it’s also a fishery that has different sections, and those sections seem to fire at different times. It’s not exactly easy to get a bite out there right now and you can spend a lot of time fishing dead water if you’re not careful. That’s something I’ve learned the hard way here. So, finding where not to spend time is key.”

It's springtime and fish are on the move; Ashley knows the fine details of his game plan are subject to change and need to evolve throughout the tournament week. But he believes the best areas of the lake should stay somewhat consistent.

Weights

The second factor Ashley wanted to try and get a handle on during practice is what weight range he should be targeting per-day. Scoreable bass are two pounds and bigger this week on Grand Lake and having an idea of how much weight is needed to do well each day is imperative.

“Knowing what weight to be shooting for during practice is definitely one of the most challenging things about our format,” Ashley said. “In an event like this, with the full field fishing the first two days, we don’t necessarily know what to expect. I didn’t know if I needed to be practicing for 40-pounds of scoreable bass per day, or 25-pounds of fish.

“While it may make my job a little harder during practice, it makes the tournament more exciting for the fans, because you’ll be seeing the best anglers in the world figure it out as they go along. Especially those first two days of competition.”

Weather

In any early spring or late winter tournament, weather is always a huge part of the story. This week will be no different in northeast Oklahoma, which is made clear when you study the 10-day forecast.

Competition starts tomorrow with forecasted temps in the 30s, heavy winds, thick cloud cover and some rain mixed in. But look ahead to the weekend and we’re expecting much warmer weather with abundant sunshine.

“We’re going to start off wearing Sunrise Silver lenses and winter Simms gear, but by the weekend we might be in t-shirts and need Blue Mirror lenses to block out the sun,” said the longtime Costa Sunglasses pro. “Drastic swings in the weather are par for the course with an early spring derby, though. We just gotta roll with it.

“I’ve been watching the weather in Oklahoma for the last few weeks, and I expected spring to have sprung out here to be honest. When I saw water temps were still as cold as they are (upper forties) I was surprised. I was hoping for warmer water temps, but the lake is still full of fish and we still gotta catch ‘em.”

While Ashley may have preferred warmer water and more stable spring weather, he has proven he can perform at a high level even when the air temperatures are low and frigid. Famously at his 2015 Classic win on Lake Hartwell when boats were literally freezing to their trailers, and most recently at Lake Fork for Stage Two of the Bass Pro Tour when he power-fished a spinnerbait and a jig amidst freezing temps and sleet en route to a 4th place finish.

Don’t let Ashley’s calm and cool demeanor fool you, the South Carolina native has ice in his veins and is always one to watch when he can fish his strengths. Grand Lake could absolutely be set up for a shallow water, power-fishing showdown this week; which is right in Ashley’s wheelhouse.

by AnglersChannel

MLF Toyota Series Event Set for Dale Hollow Lake

BYRDSTOWN, Tenn. (March 22, 2022) – Byrdstown and Pickett County are set to welcome back Major League Fishing (MLF) for an event next week, March 31-April 2, with the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at Dale Hollow Lake. The three-day tournament, hosted by the Byrdstown-Pickett County Chamber of Commerce, is the second event of the season for the Toyota Series Central Division.

The tournament will feature the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers casting for a top prize package of up to $75,000 in the pro division and a new Phoenix 518 pro boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor, in the co-angler division.

“This tournament could be the absolute perfect storm,” said Toyota Series pro Ryan Davidson of Branchland, West Virginia, who finished in fifth place at last weekend’s Phoenix Bass Fishing League event on Dale Hollow. “Between the weather, the time of year, and the water conditions, this is setting up to be a phenomenal event.

“The lake is still about four feet below summer pool,” Davidson continued. “This past weekend the water temperature was anywhere from the high 40s to 52, 53 degrees. And we’re going to have a warming trend with temperatures in the 70s, so I imagine we’ll see a big push of staging fish that are getting ready to spawn.”

Davidson said that he predicts moving baits – Alabama rigs, jerkbaits, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and ChatterBaits to all play a role for tournament competitors. He said that the low water levels might make things a bit difficult for the anglers that like to pitch and flip, but that a little bit of rain could quickly change that.

“The weather is going to be a factor in this one, no doubt,” Davidson said. “A little bit of rain could put some color in the lake, and if that happens I think we’ll see the fish relating more to structure.

“I think we’ll see a handful of limits weighing more than 20 pounds, but with the number of anglers on the water I think that will be tough to duplicate for multiple days,” Davidson went on to say. “If a guy can average 17 to 18 pounds a day, weigh in 54, 55 or 56 pounds over three days, they’ll be right there at the end.”

Anglers will take off daily at 6:30 a.m. CT from the Sunset Marina & Resort, located at 2040 Sunset Dock Road in Monroe, Tennessee. Weigh-ins will also be held at the resort and will begin at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend and encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

After one event in the Toyota Series Central Division, Kent Ware of Guntersville, Alabama leads Pro Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 260 points, while Charlie Crouch of Waterloo, Alabama, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 260 points.

In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of $40,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of $65,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard (valued at $33,500) plus $5,000 cash.

The 2022 Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions and finish in the top 25 – or the top 12 from the Wild Card division – will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 cash. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2022 Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Championship will be held Nov. 3-5 on Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Alabama, and is hosted by Marshall County Tourism and Sports.

Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, AFTCO, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Outlaw Ordnance, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF Toyota Series on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Mike Mccullers and Slade Mccullers Inch Out Second Place With 14.57 for the Win

By Jason Duran

Alexander City, Ala March 20 – Second stop of the Alabama Bass Trail South Division was Lake Martin. Launch and weigh in for the 225 Teams was held at Wind Creek State Park where teams competed for a $10,000 first place cash prize and payouts for the rest of the field though 40^th place. The team of Mike Mccullers and Slade Mccullers took the win in a close one with 14.57 pounds.

Mother Nature finally cooperated on tournament day. The ABT seems to be known for having difficult conditions on tournament day. The last few events were no different with the weather changing drastically on tournament day including frozen conditions. However, this event had beautiful Chamber of Commerce weather. Saturday was full of sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s. Friday’s final day of practice brought major thunderstorms through the area affecting the fishing for some teams causing their patterns to change and sending them searching for new waters to catch fish.

Mike and Slade both live on Lake Martin and have spent many years learning how to fish the conditions. They relied heavily on experience to narrow down the pattern. Their plan after practice was to “spend the day sight fishing. We located an area in practice holding a few pre-spawn fish including one female around 4-pounds. When we arrived on that spot, we noticed the female was not there but spent some time looking for her. She never showed up, so we caught the buck bass off the bed and continued fishing the area using a Wacky Rigged Senko on 15lb Fluorocarbon line and a Zoom watermelon Speed Craw on a ¼ oz ball jig head and 12lb test line.” They decided to abandon the area and look for similar areas and “ran all over the lake looking for more of the same style pattern.” The other areas did not produce the quality of fish they were looking for. “We know it typically takes mixed bag of largemouth paired with a couple spotted bass over 2-pounds to win here, so that was what we went looking for. The spotted bass we were catching were all under 2-pounds, so we decided to go back to our original area for the rest of the day.” They ended up weighing in a limit of all largemouth. Throughout the day they caught 20 fish, and only 5 of those were spotted bass. Their limit weighed 14.57 giving them a $10,000 payday from this event.

Josh Chapple and Paul Davis took second place with 14.53. They spent Thursday practicing in separate boats. Paul got some better bites in one area of the lake, so they decided to go there on tournament day. Reacting to the close second-place finish and missing first place by only .04, “we have fished here a little bit, and it usually bites us pretty hard. We really want to win one, but it was good to do well here. We ran down the lake and stayed down there all day and felt it was our only shot at winning. We didn’t really catch them until around lunch time (11-3). We fished clean and didn’t lose any fish that would have made a difference. During the day we caught 20-25 fish throwing top water frogs, a pop-r and flipping boat docks using a brown Davis Bait jig. The plan was to keep it really simple, and that was what we did.” This points race is going to be a race till the end of the year. Each event teams have to catch them to stay at the top. With this finish and an 8^th place finish at the first event on Logan Martin, Josh and Paul are now in 2^nd place in AOY events with three events remaining. They took home $5,000 plus a Wedowee Marine $1,000 bonus.

Rob Lee and Steve Winslett finish third with 14.36 and continue to be one of the most consistent teams in the ABT. In practice they located some sight fish, but the weather change on Friday affected their plan. They only caught one off bed. “We knew the fish were still in the area, so we had to blind cast to them. The wind coming out of the west made sight fishing difficult, but we stayed in the areas we saw them on bed on Wednesday and Thursday. After a front like this and blue bird skies it makes it tough to find bedding fish because they typically pull off the bed and move out a little. The fish we found were in 3-feet or less of water and the water temp was 58°-64°. When we finally found them and started catching them, we stayed in the area the rest of the day. Fish were caught on a Big Bites green pumpkin tube and stick bait. “We really want AOY, but it takes a lot of work. We have two really good second place finishes at the Alabama River, which is a very unpredictable lake and changes so much. We need to put our work in to prepare for Eufaula to close out the season.” They took home 3^rd place and $4,000.

The AOY race is starting to take shape for Rob and Steve. With this week’s 3^rd place finish and a 1^st place win at Logan Martin, they are now at the top of the leader board. They currently have a 6-point lead over second place Josh and Paul, but it’s not over yet. The next event is on the Alabama River at Cooter’s Pond April 9^th.

The Top 10 places are below for a complete list of standings visit: https://www.alabamabasstrail.org/lake-martin/results/

Download and listen to the ABT Podcast on your favorite Podcast app by searching for “Alabama Bass Trail Podcast.” The podcast is released each week on Tuesday.

by AnglersChannel

Late-Day Cull Lifts Cook To Wire-To-Wire Win At Bassmaster Elite On Santee Cooper Lakes

Drew Cook of Cairo, Ga., has won the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes with a four-day total of 105 pounds, 5 ounces.

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

March 21, 2022

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Before the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes began, Drew Cook had never led a single round of an Elite Series event.

Apparently, he was just saving up for the best event of his career.

The Cairo, Ga., pro grabbed the lead on Day 1 of the tournament with an astounding catch of 31-13 and then never relinquished the first-place spot, as bags of 24-12, 24-3 and 24-9 pushed him to a four-day total of 105-5. He earned one of the blue trophies that every pro covets, a $100,000 paycheck and a Century Belt for catching more than 100 pounds.

Cook and second-place pro Caleb Kuphall (103-1) became the 33rd and 34th different anglers to reach Century Club status — and Lakes Marion and Moultrie have now produced eight Century Belts, the second-most in Elite Series history, with only Falcon Lake in Texas producing more (15).

“I completely forgot about the Century Belt. That’s cool,” Cook said. “It was a perfect storm this week. I had a blast. I did really well keeping my composure. There were a couple of times this week the wheels could have fallen off. I acted like I had been there before and it all worked out.”

Cook spent his entire week doing what he loves best, sight fishing for spawning largemouth using a Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog.

“That is what is so awesome about it,” he said. “All my friends joked with me and said I was going to win my first tournament either at a place like the Sabine or with a spinning rod smallmouth fishing.

“To be able to win my first one wire-to-wire with my favorite rod doing my absolute favorite things, it is a blessing.”

Spending his time in the Potato Creek region of Lake Marion, Cook caught the majority of his weight in lily pad fields that were located next to deep water.

In practice, the female bass he found had not locked onto beds. But come tournament time, they settled close to the only male he found on bed.

“The area was very special. I didn’t know it was that special,” he said. “Because it had deep water that went all the way to the back of it, it reloaded every day. It really did surprise me. I didn’t know that was going to happen. Having 6 feet of water up against the bank in the back is the reason those fish kept coming in there.”

Cook used two different-sized Fighting Frogs, a 4-inch and a 5-inch. The smaller bait was paired with a 1/4-ounce weight and a 4/0 Gamakatsu G-Finesse Heavy Cover hook, while the bigger frog was rigged with a 3/8-ounce weight and a 5/0 Gamakatsu G-Power hook.

With 22-pound Sunline Shooter spooled on his reels, Cook used a pair of rods — a Dobyns 754 Xstasy and a Dobyns 744 Champion Extreme. He said the rods were just the right length for keeping bass pinned when they jumped and fought.

When he thought a bass was ready to commit to his tilapia magic-colored Fighting Frog, Cook put slack in his line and repeatedly tapped the butt end of his rod to make the bait’s appendages move in the bed without moving the lure out of the strike zone.

He added that the silver fleck in that particular color creates a reflection that catches the eye of a bass and irritates it.

“The bait isn’t moving toward me,” he said. “The bait is staying where it is.”

Entering the day with over a 4-pound lead, Cook started Championship Monday by catching a 5-pounder he had left the previous day in the first hour. But he was still slow to fill his limit, not doing so until around 1 p.m.

“Not having those fast starts the past two days probably saved me today,” he said. “When it got to be about 1 o’clock, there was a little concern, but I wasn’t too worried.”

Although he had a limit, Cook still did not have his biggest bass until just before 2:30 p.m., a 7-14 that won the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day award and an extra $1,000.

“I don’t even remember what happened,” Cook said about landing the big bass. “I think I kissed (cameraman) Jake (Latendresse). It was in slow motion whenever I set the hook until I got it in my hand.

“I knew that was going to be the one that gave me a shot. It was a big sigh of relief and a big weight off my shoulders.”

With a Day 1 bag weighing 29-10 and a 31-4 limit on Day 3, Kuphall reached the 100-pound mark by catching 29-3 on Championship Monday to lift him into second place. The feat was most impressive, considering the Mukwonago, Wis., pro only caught four bass that weighed 13-0 on Day 2.

“It feels great just to be able to adjust,” he said. “Where I caught them on the third day, I didn’t really fish on the first and second day. To adjust and catch them on something totally different and have that kind of weight, I’m really happy with that.”

Catching mostly prespawn bass with a couple of spawners and postspawners mixed in, Kuphall targeted deeper cypress trees in Lake Marion.

“Those deeper trees right on the edge on a dropoff into deeper water were the ones I was keying on,” he said. “There was nothing about the tree itself. There was no real pattern there, just where they were situated (in relation) to deep water.”

Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, finished third with a four-day total of 98-0, falling just shy of the century mark. The 2020 Santee Cooper Lakes Elite Series champion mixed things up in the Potato Creek region, fishing offshore bass with a Rapala OG Slim crankbait, jerkbaits, jigs and an X Zone Lures Blitz Worm before searching for big bedding bass with an X Zone Lures Adrenaline Craw.

“I knew I was going to need four or five big ones if I wanted to make a run at this thing,” Palaniuk said. “I caught a 6 3/4- and a 4-pounder (on my starting spot) and then it died off quickly and I couldn’t get any more big bites there. I felt like I was making good adjustments. I just couldn’t catch enough.”

Pat Schlapper of Wisconsin earned the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament award with the 9-10 largemouth he caught on Day 2, winning $2,000.

Oklahoma pro Luke Palmer, who finished fourth with 95-7, earned the $2,000 VMC Monster Bag Award with his Day 3 catch of 33-5.

South Carolina’s Brandon Cobb took home an additional $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, while John Cox of Florida earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Cook claimed an additional $4,000 and Palaniuk earned an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

Ed Loughran III won the $1,000 BassTrakk Contingency award for the most accurate weight reporting.

Heading into the fourth stop of the season, the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite Series at Chickamauga Lake, Cox leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 285 points. Tennessee pro David Mullins is second with 265, and Arkansan Stetson Blaylock is third with 257.

Wisconsin pro Jay Przekurat leads the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 232 points. Alabamian Joseph Webster is second with 183 points and Pennsylvania pro Jonathan Kelley is third with 167.

The Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce hosted the event.
2022 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2022 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2022 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Huk Performance Fishing, Marathon, Strike King, Triton Boats, VMC
2022 Bassmaster Conservation Partners: AFTCO, Yamaha Rightwaters

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 515,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Mossy Oak Fishing, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.

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Media Contact: Emily Harley, B.A.S.S. Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, [email protected]

2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes 3/17-3/20
Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Drew Cook Day 1: 5 31-13 2. Caleb Kuphall Day 1: 5 29-10 3. Brandon Palaniuk Day 1: 5 26-02 4. Luke Palmer Day 1: 5 16-07 5. Cory Johnston Day 1: 5 20-04 6. Brandon Cobb Day 1: 5 19-14 7. John Cox Day 1: 5 19-03 8. Greg Hackney Day 1: 5 27-14 9. Drew Benton Day 1: 5 17-03 10. Pat Schlapper Day 1: 5 18-12 ------------------ Cairo, GA 20 105-05 100 $101,000.00
Day 2: 5 24-12 Day 3: 5 24-03 Day 4: 5 24-09
Mukwonago, WI 19 103-01 99 $35,000.00
Day 2: 4 13-00 Day 3: 5 31-04 Day 4: 5 29-03
Rathdrum, ID 20 98-00 98 $30,000.00
Day 2: 5 22-13 Day 3: 5 27-07 Day 4: 5 21-10
Coalgate, OK 20 95-07 97 $28,000.00
Day 2: 5 26-07 Day 3: 5 33-05 Day 4: 5 19-04
Cavan CANADA 20 88-09 96 $20,000.00
Day 2: 5 24-02 Day 3: 5 22-13 Day 4: 5 21-06
Greenwood, SC 20 85-06 95 $19,000.00
Day 2: 5 22-00 Day 3: 5 22-15 Day 4: 5 20-09
DeBary, FL 20 84-06 94 $19,000.00
Day 2: 5 26-13 Day 3: 5 20-03 Day 4: 5 18-03
Gonzales, LA 20 82-01 93 $17,000.00
Day 2: 5 20-03 Day 3: 5 18-09 Day 4: 5 15-07
Blakely, GA 19 78-13 92 $16,000.00
Day 2: 5 22-01 Day 3: 5 28-13 Day 4: 4 10-12
Eleva, WI 19 77-15 91 $17,000.00
Day 2: 5 26-04 Day 3: 5 22-01 Day 4: 4 10-14
-----------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 08-15 $1,000.00
2 Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 09-10 $1,000.00
3 Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 09-04 $1,000.00
4 Drew Cook Cairo, GA 07-14 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 09-10 $1,000.00
VMC MONSTER BAG
Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 33-05 $2,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 74 424 1462-06
2 71 420 1557-06
3 38 214 891-10
4 8 48 191-13
----------------------------------
191 1106 4103-03

by AnglersChannel

Sweitzer Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Eufaula

Fielder Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

EUFAULA, Okla. (March 21, 2022) – Boater Tad Sweitzer of Eufaula, Oklahoma, caught five bass Saturday weighing 23 pounds, 6 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Eufaula Lake. The tournament was the season-opener for the Bass Fishing League Okie Division. Sweitzer earned $4,905 for his victory.

“I had an awesome co-angler, and I told him we were going to make a run, put the trolling motor down to save fuel and put our heads down and fish,” Sweitzer said. “I told him you can’t win with the big motor and running.”

Sweitzer said he started in 30 feet of water fishing an Alabama-rig to target bait balls and caught two 5-pounders in the first 30 minutes, but then the bass started to shy away from their offerings.

“That’s when the day got long,” Sweitzer said. “I didn’t have another fish until 1:30. Then I pulled up on a stretch, got a jerkbait out and caught three more keepers to put in the boat.”

Sweitzer said his five fish that he weighed in were the only fish he caught during the tournament. In addition to the umbrella-rig, Sweitzer said he used a Berkley deep-diving crankbait as well as a 6^thSense Jerkbait to target bass on ledges.

“This was the first BFL tournament I’ve ever fished,” Sweitzer said. “I kept telling my wife, ‘I just want one of those trophies someday.’ She said, ‘You can’t do it unless you fish it.’

“This just feels awesome,” Sweitzer added.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:        Tad Sweitzer, Eufaula, Okla., five bass, 23-6, $4,905
2nd:       Shawn Mote, Ardmore, Okla., five bass, 21-1, $2,453
3rd:       Chris M. Jones, Bokoshe, Okla., four bass, 18-6, $2,375
4th:        Jeff Kriet, Ardmore, Okla., five bass, 17-8, $1,363
4th:        Ian Leybas, McAlester, Okla., five bass, 17-8, $1,063
6th:        Curt Warren, Rose, Okla., five bass, 17-2, $899
7th:        Jeff Clark, Van Buren, Ark., five bass, 17-1, $818
8th:        Lane Kindle, Stilwell, Okla., five bass, 16-15, $936
9th:        Orlean Smith, McAlester, Okla., five bass, 16-9, $654
10th:     Blake Capps, Muskogee, Okla., five bass, 16-8, $1,272 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Jones had a 9-pound largemouth that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division and earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $740.

Fred Fielder of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,453 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 15 pounds, 13 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

1st:        Fred Fielder, Tahlequah, Okla., five bass, 15-13, $2,453
2nd:       Scott Moore, Fort Gibson, Okla., three bass, 15-4, $1,226
3rd:       Jacob Cooper, Leon, Kan., five bass, 13-12, $816
4th:        David Hamilton, Rogers, Ark., four bass, 12-13, $572
5th:        Timothy Cartwright, Sand Springs, Okla., five bass, 12-4, $591
6th:        David Blankinship, Cushing, Okla., five bass, 11-6, $450
7th:        Bryan Schuster, Oklahoma City, Okla., three bass, 11-3, $559
8th:        Leroy Dee Sheperd, Mountain View, Okla., four bass, 10-2, $368
9th:        Brian Brecka, Alma, Wis., three bass, 9-8, $327
10th:     Rick Blosser, Tulsa, Okla., three bass, 9-7, $272
10th:     Bobby Walker, Ponca City, Okla., three bass, 9-7, $272

Andrew Workman of Stilwell, Oklahoma, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 6 pounds, 8 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $370.

After one event, Tad Sweitzer of Eufaula, Oklahoma, leads the Bass Fishing League Okie Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 250 points, while Fred Fielder, Tahlequah, Oklahoma leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 250 points.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 13-15 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Boaters will compete for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Regional Championships where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. The 2022 All-American will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, AFTCO, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Revital Outdoors, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X, YETI and Yo-Zuri.

For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Abbott Earns Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Dale Hollow Lake

Henson Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

BYRDSTOWN, Tenn. (March 21, 2022) – Boater Tristan Abbott of Somerset, Kentucky, caught five bass Saturday weighing 20 pounds, 1 ounce, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Dale Hollow Lake. The tournament, hosted by Star Point Marina and Resort, was the season-opener for the Bass Fishing League Mountain Division. Abbott earned $7,200 for his victory.

“We took off in the morning and made a run down the lake,” Abbott said. “I’d been on some fish and been catching them for the majority of the winter, and was very blessed they had stayed in the same area.

“I had one of the fish I weighed in the first hour or so,” Abbott added. “And it went from there. I was pleased with my day. I fished clean throughout the day and didn’t lose any fish.”

Abbott said he spent the majority of his day trying to boost his bag of 4-pounders by targeting staging fish, mid-lake around chunk rock and channel swings that were holding baitfish. Abbott said his baits of choice were an Alabama-rig and a Berkley Stunna Jerkbait.

“It was a good day of fishing all the way around,” Abbott said. “This win is long overdue. I’ve finished second a couple of times, and I won Angler of the Year last year in the Mountain Division, and I’d like to repeat that.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:        Tristan Abbott, Somerset, Ky., five bass, 20-1, $7,200
2nd:       Dalton Smith, Taylorsville, Ky., five bass, 19-13, $3,000
3rd:       Christian Nash, Cookeville, Tenn., five bass, 19-10, $2,500 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
4th:        Isaac Peavyhouse, Jamestown, Tenn., five bass, 18-14, $1,400
5th:        Brad Atkins, West Liberty, Ky., five bass, 18-2, $1,400
6th:        Ryan Davidson, Branchland, W.V., five bass, 17-12, $1,100
7th:        Cori White, Celina, Tenn., five bass, 17-9, $1,000
8th:        Clay Peters, Butler, Ky., five bass, 17-2, $900
9th:        Zach Crider, Tunnel Hill, Ga., five bass, 17-0, $800
10th:     David Steadman Jr., Tullahoma, Tenn., five bass, 16-15, $700

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Jonathan Green of East Bernstadt, Kentucky, had a 5-pound, 7-ounce largemouth that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division and earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $1,000.

Jason Henson of Rome, Georgia, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $3,300 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 16 pounds, 8 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

1st:        Jason Henson, Rome, Ga., five bass, 16-8, $3,300
2nd:       Timothy Jolley, Monroe, Tenn., five bass, 16-5, $1,500
3rd:       Billy Gardner, Livingston, Tenn., five bass, 15-1, $1,000
4th:        Lee Sinclair, Albany, Ky., five bass, 15-0, $700
5th:        Robert Jones, Whitley City, Ky., five bass, 14-8, $600
6th:        Trent Suratt, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., five bass, 14-7, $550
7th:        Nicole Foor, Greenfork, Ind., five bass, 14-4, $500
8th:        Justin Brandenburg, Richmond, Ky., five bass, 14-3, $450
9th:        Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., five bass, 14-1, $400
10th:     Lance Souders, Somerset, Ky., four bass, 13-10, $350

Christopher Logsdon of Brownsville, Kentucky, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 4 pounds, 8 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $500.

After one event, Tristan Abbott of Somerset, Kentucky leads the Bass Fishing League Mountain Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 250 points, while Jason Henson of Rome, Georgia leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 250 points.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 20-22 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Smith Lake in Cullman, Alabama. Boaters will compete for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

by AnglersChannel

Millsaps Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Keowee

Goldman Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

SENECA, S.C. (March 21, 2022) – Boater David Millsaps of Ranger, Georgia, caught five bass Saturday weighing 19 pounds, 5 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Keowee. The tournament, hosted by Visit Oconee, was the season-opener for the Bass Fishing League Savannah River Division. Millsaps earned $4,830 for his victory.

“I started out and caught four or five spotted bass on a homemade jig,” Millsaps said. “As the day went on, the wind picked up, and I fished rocky points where the wind was blowing bait and just kept upgrading all day.”

Millsaps said he caught 15 to 20 keepers during the course of the day by keeping the boat in 20 feet of water and casting to rocky points and banks and working the jig slowly.

“These events are hard to win,” said Millsaps, who now has four career BFL wins. “A win this early in the season always boosts you for the rest of the season.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:        David Millsaps, Ranger, Ga., five bass, 19-5, $4,830
2nd:       Jason Burroughs, Hodges, S.C., five bass, 18-3, $4,235 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
3rd:       Bo Price, Seneca, S.C., five bass, 17-15, $1,609
4th:        Scott Browning, Franklin, N.C., five bass, 16-4, $1,127
5th:        Shannon Poore, Walhalla, S.C., five bass, 15-7, $925
5th:        Emil Wagner, Marietta, Ga., five bass, 15-7, $925
7th:        Derek Lehtonen, Woodruff, S.C., five bass, 15-4, $805
8th:        Derek Freeman, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 14-12, $724
9th:        Greg Glouse, Liberty, S.C., five bass, 14-10, $644
10th:     Kevin Whitmore, Easley, S.C., five bass, 14-7, $563

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Burroughs had a 7-pound, 15-ounce largemouth that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division and earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $720.

Jason Goldman of Commerce, Georgia, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,415 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 13 pounds, 10 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

1st:        Jason Goldman, Commerce, Ga., five bass, 13-10, $2,415
2nd:       Alan Poston, Travelers Rest, S.C., five bass, 13-5, $1,207
3rd:       Chris Wilson, Easley, S.C., five bass, 11-13, $806
4th:        Jody Hughes, Baldwin, Ga., five bass, 11-9, $523
4th:        Corey Veal, Royston, Ga., five bass, 11-9, $523
6th:        Harold Grizzle, Gainesville, Ga., five bass, 11-3, $443
7th:        Scott Gardner, Seneca, S.C., five bass, 11-0, $402
8th:        Gerald Glouse, Easley, S.C., five bass, 10-13, $362
9th:        Gavin Ballew, Travelers Rest, S.C., five bass, 10-11, $322
10th:     Jacob Yaden, Evans, Ga., five bass, 10-7, $582

Nicholas Gurkin of Simpsonville, S.C, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 5 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $360.

After one event, David Millsaps of Ranger, Georgia, leads the Bass Fishing League Savannah River Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 250 points, while Jason Goldman of Commerce, Georgia, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 250 points.

by AnglersChannel

Andy Montgomery Wins 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Heritage Cup in Knoxville

South Carolina Pro Throws Strike King Thunder Cricket to Catch 16 Pounds, 10 Ounces and Win First MLF Cup Title of Career

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (March 21, 2022) – Blacksburg, South Carolina pro Andy Montgomery has been the model of consistency. In 17 career Major League Fishing Cup events, Montgomery made it to the Championship Round nine times, finishing second and third numerous times, but still searching for that elusive first win. Finally, on Tennessee’s Fort Loudoun Lake, Montgomery got it done.

In an episode that premiered Saturday on the Outdoor Channel and Monday on the MyOutdoorTV app, Montgomery caught nine bass weighing 16 pounds, 10 ounces, to win the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Heritage Cup Presented by Magellan Outdoors in Knoxville, Tennessee, and earn the first MLF Cup Championship of his career.

“We put so much into this, and I’ve been close so many times,” an emotional Montgomery said in his post-game interview. “I knew it was going to happen eventually, I just wanted it to happen a couple of years ago.

“I don’t know what it is about Fort Loudoun Lake, but I just jive with it,” the South Carolina pro continued. “I love fishing here, and I knew I was going to have a chance. I hate to get emotional, but I’m so happy that I finally won one.”

Montgomery landed a couple of bass in the first period that had him near the top of the leaderboard, then pulled away in the Period 2 with five bass to take a commanding lead. He caught the majority of his fish fishing docks with a ½-ounce blue craw-colored Strike King Thunder Cricket with a Strike King Rage Bug trailer.

“I used the Rage Bug because I was skipping so much – that bait skips really good – and I was also fishing wood, and it keeps it from hanging up,” Montgomery said. “One of the keys for me this week, though, was my line. I threw Strike King Contra fluorocarbon, and it was critical. I have confidence in that line, and I knew that it was not going to break off.”

The final eight anglers at the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Heritage Cup Presented by Magellan Outdoors in Knoxville, Tennessee finished:

1st: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., nine bass, 16-10
2nd: Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., seven bass, 13-8
3rd: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., seven bass, 8-12
4th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., six bass, 7-4
5th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., four bass, 7-4
6th: Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., four bass, 6-9
7th: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., three bass, 3-12
8th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., zero bass, 0-0

Complete results along with photos from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Montgomery caught the Championship Round Berkley Big Bass – a chunky 3-pound, 4-ounce largemouth that bit a bladed swimjig.

Overall, there were 40 bass weighing 63 pounds, 11 ounces caught by the final eight pros during the Championship Round of competition on the upper reaches of Fort Loudoun Lake.

The 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Heritage Cup Presented by Magellan Outdoors was hosted by the Visit Knoxville Sports Commission and Jefferson County, Tennessee and premiered on the Outdoor Channel as six, two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon debuting on Feb. 12, 2022, and running through March 19, 2022.

The event was shot over six days in October in Knoxville and featured 24 MLF pro anglers visiting the Knoxville area to compete on Douglas Lake and different zones of Fort Loudoun Lake on each day of competition. The locations were unknown to the anglers – they did not learn where they were competing until they arrived to the launch ramp each morning of competition.

All six episodes of the event are now available for viewing on the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) streaming app. The full television schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the MLF Cup events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

VanDam at REDCREST: Baby Carp and a Shotgun Blast

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin / Dynamic Sponsorships

Note: This is the first installment of a series of short documentaries from Alan McGuckin of Dynamic Sponsorships as he chronicles Kevin VanDam’s week at REDCREST on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake.

When KVD thinks of Grand Lake – “Cold weather tournaments jump to mind. The coldest event I think I have ever fished was here on Grand Lake in early November of 1991. Ron Shuffield won that one. Boat ramps were frozen, and so were rod guides. It was brutal. And then one year later, again in early November, Jim Morton won the 1992 event on Grand with a buzzbait in a snowstorm. Not to mention Day 1 of the 2013 Classic that Cliff Pace won. It was 23-degrees at take-off,” VanDam clearly recalls.

It’s Still Winter – Speaking of cold weather, Sunday’s first official practice day ended with air temps in the 70s, but began in knit beanie caps with temps in the 40s – much like the water surface temps.

“Dude, this is kind of shocking! 48-degree water is way colder than I was expecting,” said VanDam to begin the day.

“That explains why I saw gulls diving on stunned and dying shad in the middle of coves. And with overnight lows in the 30s the rest of the week, this tournament will fish way more like a late winter event, versus a true pre-spawn springtime derby,” he added.

“Baby Carp” the crankbait color – VanDam’s Elite Series win on Grand Lake in June of 2007 was the launch pad for the now iconic color “Sexy Shad” he helped originate.

Right now, a brown-orange-red craw color Strike King calls“Baby Carp” has become a true love of his during this time of year. He throws it a ton, so don’t be shocked if Grand is once again the stage for VanDam to make yet another new color famous.

Shotgun blast – Around 9:30 a.m. Sunday, VanDam was slinging his “Baby Carp” colored Series 3 crankbait around the back of a mid-lake creek, when an otherwise calm and peaceful morning was abruptly interrupted by a tremendously loud shotgun blast.

It came from an elderly man standing on the porch of his lakeside home, who was obviously shooting to scare geese off his lawn, and apparently never saw VanDam’s boat.

The shot pellets landed in the water, 20 yards from VanDam’s trolling motor. A second later, Kevin hollered to make sure the man knew he was there, and understandably perturbed. The man waved and went back inside his home.

A younger man, doing landscape work, checked to make sure Kevin was okay.

No harm. Likely an honest mistake. But a little too close for comfort.

54 and still fast – After 30 remarkable years as a tournament angler, VanDam may occasionally slip on reading glasses these days, but at age 54 he still fishes with much the samesuper-fast tempo he became known for in the 1990s.

He covers a remarkable amount of water, often with a crankbait, or a jerkbait twitched with a rapid cadence. And at one point, joked that he hoped the jig he had just pitched near a dock didn’t get bit – because that might force him to fish slower.

At the end of the day – VanDam spent 12 hours practicing Sunday on Grand Lake. It took him 90 minutes to get the first bite, and he caught five or six scoreable bass after that totaling around 16-pounds.

Bites certainly didn’t come easy, and he knows with rain and colder temps coming, Grand will fish more like a stingywinter event.

But at the end of the day, two different groups of young fans, who had spotted his Toyota Tundra and empty boat trailer, waited at the boat ramp for him to arrive at the end of a long practice day for a chance to meet him.

They hollered “KVD” – and he graciously asked if they’d like to have a photo taken with him. To which they of course said “yes” – and one of the youngsters commented, “Oh my gosh, this is like the best thing ever.”

Suddenly Grand’s cold waters and a careless shotgun blastwere almost forgotten, as the goodness of The G.O.A.T.’s life and career were placed in healthy perspective.

by AnglersChannel

Cook Holds Lead At Bassmaster Elite Series Event On Santee Cooper As Big Bags Roll In

Drew Cook of Cairo, Ga., is leading after Day 3 of the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite on Santee Cooper Lakes with a three-day total of 80 pounds, 12 ounces.

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

March 20, 2022

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — When the threat of strong winds and storms postponed the third day of the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes, Drew Cook watched from his rental house as boat after boat entered the area where he has dominated the event.

But despite the local boat traffic and a day off with no idea what happened to his area, Cook sacked a limit weighing 24 pounds, 3 ounces to maintain his lead with a three-day total of 80-12. With previous bags of 31-13 and 24-12, Cook holds more than a 4-pound lead over Idaho's Brandon Palaniuk (76-6) and Oklahoma pro Luke Palmer (76-3).

“I’m staying across the creek from the cove I’ve fished every day, and it was pretty brutal to sit there and watch it happen,” Cook said. “I can’t complain. I still have a 4-pound lead and we are one day away.

“Having that lead is nice, but a 4-pound lead here really isn’t much. I could go catch 20 pounds tomorrow and Luke (Palmer) could catch 24 pounds and there goes my lead. That is one bass here and there is a pile of 4-pounders.”

The Georgia resident continued sight fishing for bedding bass on Day 3, catching eight total fish with his biggest weighing approximately 7 pounds on BassTrakk. Throughout the week, Cook has struggled during the morning hours and one big bass he saw on Friday was gone when he went back Sunday.

While there are new fish, both males and females, Cook was surprised he didn’t see more.

“If you would have said there was going to be a day off, you would think there would be more bass pulling up than there was,” he said. “A lot of that could have been from the local pressure. There were still new ones up there, and I’m sure there will be new ones tomorrow too.”

Cook plans to start Championship Monday in the same area on a big bass he saw Sunday and give the rest of the area a look. But he will likely be fishing new water much of the day.

“I still have some stuff on the other side of the lake I haven’t been to yet,” he said. “I won’t be going to any fish I have marked anymore after my first one in the morning. I marked some males, but they were only 3-pounders, and we are going to need more than 3-pounders.”

With multiple 25-pound-plus bags weighed Sunday, Cook knows he will need to catch a big bag Monday to claim his first Elite Series victory.

“To win one would be a dream come true,” he said. “I have really busted my butt my whole career and been close a couple of times but haven’t had that event where everything goes right.

“I have had opportunities to win tournaments, but it has always been from behind. To finally not dig myself a hole on Day 1 and come out swinging has helped tremendously.”

While a tough morning on Day 2 left him scrambling to find bedding bass, Palaniuk started Day 3 strong and weighed in 27-7, increasing his three-day total to 76-6. He did most of his damage during the first two hours with a crankbait and a jerkbait.

After filling his limit, he made a crucial cull around 12:30 p.m. to fill out his bag.

“I changed it up today,” Palaniuk said. “Hopefully that plays out tomorrow. I could catch 30-plus in 15 or 20 minutes if the right ones would just bite. Or, I could go there and catch nothing.

“I thought I wasn’t going to catch anything and then I caught a 4-pounder. I made a change and caught a 6-pounder and a 5 1/2-pounder on back-to-back casts.”

The higher winds Saturday resulted in a cooler night, which Palaniuk believes helped his bite on Day 3. He is hoping an even cooler night Sunday will keep those bass in place.

“The nastier the better for me because I’m doing something different than most of the guys,” Palaniuk said. “I feel like that will give me the best chance. I hope we have a freeze warning tonight. That would be the best thing for me.”

Palaniuk also fished more than two hours Sunday for a bass that he believes could be bigger than the 8-12 he caught Saturday. But the smaller male bass bit instead, and he was unable to catch the lunker he wanted.

“I promise you I will go check it again tomorrow,” he said. “We are within striking distance. I mean someone is going to win with a 30-pound bag tomorrow.”

Palmer landed the current VMC Monster Bag of the Tournament on Day 3 with 33-5 — the biggest bag of his career and one that launched him into third place with a three-day total of 76-3. He also landed the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day with a 9-4 largemouth.

With a Falcon Cara Amistad flipping stick in hand and Sunline spooled on his reel, Palmer said he finally got to fish to his strengths.

“It is almost like dreaming,” he said. “We don’t have that type of sack in Oklahoma. To do it with stuff I have used my whole life, it was fun. I have never gotten to do it (on tour) the way I really want to catch them.”

After ending Day 1 in 43rd place, Palmer recovered with 26-7 on Day 2. He tried to make the upper end of Lake Marion work on the first and second days. But with much dirtier water moving through that area, he found a home down lake and pitched a Yum Bad Mamma and Wooly Bug to catch the majority of his bass.

He added that many of the bass he is catching are spawning and while he can’t see them with his eyes, he can see them on his fish finder.

“It was my time today,” he said. “I have one more stretch where I caught a three, broke one off and then went to ‘Scoping trees and didn’t even flip for them because I could see how big they were.

“I thought if I could get to 75 pounds, I would have a chance at a Century Belt. I would love to have a trophy over the belt. Everything today was a big blessing.”

By making the Top 10, John Cox leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 283 points. David Mullins is second with 265 points and Stetson Blaylock is third with 257.

Jay Przekurat leads the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 232 points. Joseph Webster is second with 183 points and Jonathan Kelley is 167 points.

The Top 10 will launch from John C Land III Sport Fishing Facility starting at 7:30 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in at 3:30 p.m., with the winner earning a coveted blue trophy and a $100,000 first-place prize. Live coverage can be streamed on Bassmaster.com.

2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes 3/17-3/20
Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 15 80-12 100
Day 1: 5 31-13 Day 2: 5 24-12 Day 3: 5 24-03
2. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 15 76-06 99
Day 1: 5 26-02 Day 2: 5 22-13 Day 3: 5 27-07
3. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 15 76-03 98 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 26-07 Day 3: 5 33-05
4. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 14 73-14 97
Day 1: 5 29-10 Day 2: 4 13-00 Day 3: 5 31-04
5. Drew Benton Blakely, GA 15 68-01 96
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 22-01 Day 3: 5 28-13
6. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 15 67-03 95
Day 1: 5 20-04 Day 2: 5 24-02 Day 3: 5 22-13
7. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 15 67-01 94 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 5 26-04 Day 3: 5 22-01
8. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 15 66-10 93
Day 1: 5 27-14 Day 2: 5 20-03 Day 3: 5 18-09
9. John Cox DeBary, FL 15 66-03 92
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 5 26-13 Day 3: 5 20-03
10. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 15 64-13 91
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 22-00 Day 3: 5 22-15
11. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 15 64-11 90 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 26-13 Day 3: 5 21-01
12. Bryan New Saluda, SC 13 64-03 89 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 3 15-14 Day 3: 5 29-02
13. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 15 63-04 88 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 20-08 Day 3: 5 25-14
14. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 15 62-03 87 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 22-00 Day 3: 5 20-11
15. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 15 61-04 86 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 22-10 Day 3: 5 24-13
16. Joseph Webster Hamilton, AL 15 60-12 85 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-10 Day 2: 5 18-08 Day 3: 5 22-10
17. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 15 60-07 84 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-00 Day 2: 5 21-04 Day 3: 5 18-03
18. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 15 60-01 83 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 20-10 Day 3: 5 22-05
19. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 15 59-11 82 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-04 Day 2: 5 15-07 Day 3: 5 22-00
20. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 13 58-06 81 $10,000.00
Day 1: 3 11-10 Day 2: 5 24-12 Day 3: 5 22-00
21. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 15 58-02 80 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 17-06 Day 3: 5 24-03
22. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 14 57-15 79 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-01 Day 2: 5 19-08 Day 3: 4 16-06
23. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 15 57-11 78 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 20-08 Day 3: 5 21-04
24. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 15 57-02 77 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 24-08 Day 3: 5 17-02
25. Mike Huff London, KY 15 56-12 76 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 20-08 Day 3: 5 19-10
26. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 14 56-04 75 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 08-15 Day 2: 5 25-10 Day 3: 5 21-11
27. Taku Ito Chiba JAPAN 15 55-12 74 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-10 Day 2: 5 15-13 Day 3: 5 18-05
28. David Williams Newton, NC 15 55-09 73 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 20-15 Day 3: 5 21-13
29. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 15 55-03 72 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 21-05 Day 3: 5 15-04
30. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 15 54-14 71 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 18-02 Day 3: 5 19-08
31. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 15 54-05 70 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 20-06 Day 3: 5 18-01
32. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 15 54-03 69 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 24-04 Day 3: 5 14-05
33. Carl Jocumsen Queensland AUSTRALIA 15 53-05 68 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 15-08 Day 3: 5 17-15
34. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 15 52-15 67 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 19-02 Day 3: 5 19-14
35. Seth Feider New Market, MN 15 52-14 66 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 18-00 Day 3: 5 16-10
36. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 15 52-03 65 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 5 15-08 Day 3: 5 16-01
37. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 15 51-08 64 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 16-03 Day 3: 5 18-01
38. Josh Douglas Isle, MN 13 51-05 63 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 28-02 Day 3: 3 07-11
39. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 13 50-15 62 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 26-14 Day 2: 5 12-09 Day 3: 3 11-08
40. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 15 49-02 61 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-06 Day 2: 5 16-09 Day 3: 5 13-03
41. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 14 48-07 60 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 13-14 Day 2: 5 21-04 Day 3: 5 13-05
42. Derek Hudnall Denham Springs, LA 14 48-07 59 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 20-11 Day 3: 4 14-05
43. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 11 47-15 58 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 27-02 Day 2: 4 10-14 Day 3: 2 09-15
44. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 14 45-10 57 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 20-09 Day 3: 4 12-00
45. Wes Logan Springville, AL 10 42-02 56 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 12-11 Day 2: 5 23-10 Day 3: 1 05-13
46. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 11 41-02 55 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 4 15-15 Day 3: 2 06-03
47. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 11 35-09 54 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 19-08 Day 3: 1 01-06
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 08-15 $1,000.00
2 Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 09-10 $1,000.00
3 Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 09-04 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 74 424 1462-06
2 71 420 1557-06
3 38 214 891-10
----------------------------------
183 1058 3911-06

by AnglersChannel

Despite Disappointment, Largen Wins Bassmaster Kayak Series On Harris Chain

Virginia angler Justin Largen has won the 2022 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series at Harris Chain powered by TourneyX with a five-fish limit of 93.25 inches.

Photo by Mark Cisneros/B.A.S.S.

March 19, 2022

LEESBURG, Fla. — Plan B delivered in a big way for Justin Largen of Roanoke, Va., who tallied 93.25 inches to win the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series at Harris Chain powered by TourneyX.

Edging Brandon Brylinsky by 4 1/2 inches, Largen entered five bass that measured 22.25, 21.5, 17.75, 16.25 and 15.50 inches and earned $4,000. The top seven finishers earned invitations to the 2023 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship powered by TourneyX (location TBD).

Launching his 12 1/2-foot Hobie Outback Mirage into Trout Lake — a smaller body on Lake Eustis’ northeast side — Largen split his time between a hydrilla bed in 3 to 5 feet and a residential seawall near a canal. Finding success in his secondary patterns made the win particularly sweet.

“This was very unexpected,” Largen said. “This was my backup plan. I had found big bed fish in practice, but they were all gone the day before the event. I heard a local went in there and (caught most of the bed fish).

“I was really excited when I found these fish, I was really dejected yesterday, but about halfway through today, I was back on Cloud 9 again.”

Largen said he started his day on a patch of hydrilla he located during practice after realizing his bed-fishing plan was gone. He caught his bass on a Strike King Hybrid Hunter crankbait.

“I was ripping it through the grass and they were crushing it,” Largen said.

While the grass yielded quality bites, Largen said a mid-morning adjustment helped seal his victory. As he explained, it was all about expanding his effort and recognizing a feeding scenario.

“There was a seawall a couple hundred yards past the grass and I found fish busting bait along that area,” Largen said. “I was seeing bait flickering and fish boiling, but it was hard to distinguish this from the waves breaking along the seawall. Once I got dialed in on what I was looking for, I started catching fish.”

Largen threw the Hybrid Hunter along the seawall, but he also made two afternoon upgrades with a 6 1/2-inch Missile Baits Quiver worm in junebug. He Texas-rigged the bait on a 2/0 hook with a 1/8-ounce weight.

“I would just pitch it and dead stick it for 10 to 15 seconds and if I didn’t get bit, I’d move on,” Largen said. “I caught my biggest fish and the 17.75 doing this.”

Largen said that, while he recently bought several Hybrid hunters for his Potomac River home waters, he noticed Texas pro Ray Hansleman used this bait to earn a third-place finish at the SiteOne Bassmaster Elite at the Harris Chain of Lakes.

“I really hadn’t played around with that bait much until I was down here,” Largen said. “I saw he had done well with it, so I figured I’d see if I could make that thing work around the grass.

“I also knew everybody throws a ChatterBait now, so that would be a little different look with a similar vibration.”

Hailing from Ithaca, N.Y., Brylinsky placed second with 88.75 inches. His top five fish measured 22.5, 18.25, 17, 15.75 and 15.25 inches and earned him $2,500.

Devoting his day to Lake Apopka, Brylinsky worked from a 14-foot Hobie Pro Angler 360 and spent his day around the lake’s dense hydrilla. Dialing in the sweet spot was the key to his success.

“I spent most of my time on a 1/2-mile stretch, but I caught all of my better fish in a 1000-yard area,” Brylinsky said. “This area had a good patch of reeds along the shoreline, with hydrilla out front.”

Brylinsky caught his bass on a 3/4-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammer with a Berkley The Deal trailer and a 1/2-ounce Gambler Heavy Cover swim jig with an XZone Mega Swammer. White colors worked best because the fish were feeding on shad.

“The big thing seemed to be getting the bait hung up in the weed and then pop it free,” Brylinsky said. “They were grabbing it on the pop.”

Todd Patrick of Fairfield Township, Ohio, finished third, also with 88.75 inches. Ties are broken by the single largest fish and Patrick’s best bass measured 22.25. With his other four measuring 19, 16.25, 16.25 and 15 inches, he earned $1,500.

Fishing out of a 14-foot Hobie Pro Angler, Patrick stayed in Little Lake Harris and focused on cypress trees in 3 to 5 feet of water. He found his best success around trees standing behind a significant grass line.

“In practice, I got my better bites on a wacky-rigged 5-inch Strike King KVD Ocho in Okeechobee Craw color on a 1/0 VMC wacky hook,” Patrick said. “The Okeechobee craw was working better than any other color because of the water clarity. When I ran out, my bite slowed down.”

Patrick said his fish bit best in the first couple of hours before the rising sun diminished shadow pockets. His first fish was the 22.25 and he had a limit by 8:24 a.m. A noon cull finished his effort.

Thanking his travel friends, Mike Fink and Eric Siddiqi (winner of the 2022 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship powered by TourneyX on Richard B. Russell Lake), Patrick said: “I give all the honor and glory to God for my performance.”

James Busch of Carrsville, Va., won the $500 Big Bass award for his 25-inch fish. Busch placed 34th with 72.5 inches.

by AnglersChannel

Severe Weather Forces Day 3 Cancellation Of Bassmaster Elite At Santee Cooper Lakes

March 19, 2022

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Forecasts of high winds and severe weather have forced the cancellation of Day 3 at the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite on Santee Cooper Lakes.

"Safety for our anglers and marshals is our primary concern," said Lisa Talmadge, Tournament Director-Bassmaster Elite Series. "We have been monitoring the weather closely alongside the local National Weather Service. Beginning mid-morning and into the afternoon, the NWS is calling for gusts to 30 mph, lightning and large hail.

"In addition to considering the safety of those on the water, we also want to ensure fans coming to our Outdoors Expo and weigh-in stay safe."

The competition will resume Sunday morning at 7:30 a.m. ET when the Top 47 anglers launch onto Santee Cooper Lakes for Championship Sunday.

FS1 will broadcast live with the tournament leaders beginning at 8 a.m. ET. Live coverage can also be streamed on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms.

by AnglersChannel

Cook Maintains Lead At Bassmaster Elite Series Event On Santee Cooper Lakes

Drew Cook of Cairo, Ga., is leading after Day 2 of the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite on Santee Cooper Lakes with a two-day total of 56 pounds, 9 ounces.

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

March 18, 2022

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Former Bassmaster Rookie of the Year Drew Cook had never led an Elite Series event until Day 1 of the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes, but Cook took the milestone in stride by catching 24 pounds, 12 ounces on Day 2 to stretch his lead in the event.

After a catch of 31-13 on the first day, which leads the VMC Monster Bag standings as the tournament's heaviest bag, Cook now has a two-day mark of 56-9 that gives him a sizeable lead over Idaho pro Brandon Palaniuk (second, 48-15) and Louisiana pro Greg Hackney (third, 48-1).

“I should have had another really big bag,” said Cook, who resides in Cairo, Ga. “When it is going your way, it is going your way. At 10 o’clock I didn’t have a bass. I stayed on a female for too long and I left, went to another one, caught her. Then I went back to that (first) one and, on the first cast, I caught her.

“It’s been going right and hopefully it will keep going right.”

Despite a slow start, Cook continued to show off his sight-fishing prowess, picking off bedding bass with a Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog in tilapia magic. His heaviest fish weighed 7-8.

“I never spun out or anything. I kept my head in it, I thought, really well,” Cook said. “This is the first time I’ve ever been in this situation. It could have easily gone the other way. I caught one female, then another one and then a big male. Once we got things rolling we kept on.”

Calm sunny conditions prevailed for almost the entire second day, but the forecast for Day 3 calls for wind and potential rain and storms. With weather conditions and the quantity of big females moving onto the beds uncertain, Cook said he isn’t sure he can keep his current pace.

He does, however, know two big bass are still left in his area and hopes he can wrangle them on Semifinal Saturday.

“I did lose one big female this afternoon with 30 minutes to go,” he said. “Hopefully I can get her to bite again tomorrow. There was another one that was a 6-pounder, but I couldn’t get her to bite.

“I’m hoping the weather isn’t as bad as they say it is going to be, because if it is that bad that lake is going to be nasty.”

Palaniuk jumped up the leaderboard on Day 2 by catching 22-13 and increasing his two-day total to 48-15. The five-time Elite Series champion struggled much of the day, but Palaniuk landed an 8-12 largemouth with just 30 minutes to go before check-in time to salvage the day.

“It was a big grind today. What I wanted to do today did not work out this morning and I had to gamble,” Palaniuk said. “Things weren’t clicking so I went and fished all new water and I ended up catching that 8-12. That made a huge difference and really made my entire bag.”

With little success on his primary pattern from Thursday, Palaniuk punted and sight fished during the afternoon hours. Although he loves to sight fish, he said the tactic makes consistency difficult. Nothing is guaranteed and a lot of time is spent looking for new bass.

“All the fish I was catching that were staging all flooded the bank I think,” he said. “I’ll start (Saturday) doing what I did (Thursday) and see. The weather could change things and hold some of those fish back. I could catch a big bag early and if I can do that, it could make the afternoon a lot more fun.”

With 20-3 on Day 2, Hackney maintained his third-place position with 48-1. Unlike Cook and Palaniuk, Hackney got off to a hot start, securing a limit within the first three hours in the same area where he had success on Day 1.

With dirtier water in his area, Hackney picked apart shallow cover for bass he believed were on bed, but that he could not see. He “fished like a snail,” making multiple presentations to the same piece of cover.

“I caught a lot of fish today,” said Hackney, who has six B.A.S.S. wins to his credit. “I fished where I was yesterday and then I expanded on some other stuff. Where I thought I would catch big ones, I didn’t. All the fish I caught today were completely spawned out.”

After catching postspawn bass Friday, Hackney is unsure what his strategy will be moving forward, but the predicted weather conditions tomorrow may play in his favor.

“The fishing here is better when the weather is bad. When fish are spawning, when you are fishing for them and not looking at them, they bite better. They can’t see either,” Hackney said. “I’ll have to get up in the morning and see.

“I want to go down that lake and look. I have some areas where I saw 500 bass, but I didn’t see any 8-pounders.”

Wisconsin native Pat Schlapper claimed the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day award with a 9-10 largemouth.

After Day 2, John Cox leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 288 points. David Mullins of Tennessee is second with 278 points, followed by Palaniuk with 255.

By jumping into 15th place on Day 2 with 40-0, young Wisconsin pro Jay Pzrekurat continues to dominate the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race with 241 points. Alabamian Joseph Webster is second with 179 points and Minnesota’s Josh Douglas is third with 161.

The Top 47 will take off from John C. Land III Sport Fishing Facility at 7:30 a.m. ET Saturday and return for weigh-in at 3:30 p.m. The Top 10 after Saturday’s round will compete for the blue trophy and a $100,000 first-place prize on Championship Sunday.

FS1 will broadcast live with the tournament leaders beginning at 8 a.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday. Live coverage can also be streamed on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms.

2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes 3/17-3/20
Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 10 56-09 100
Day 1: 5 31-13 Day 2: 5 24-12
2. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 48-15 99
Day 1: 5 26-02 Day 2: 5 22-13
3. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 48-01 98
Day 1: 5 27-14 Day 2: 5 20-03
4. John Cox DeBary, FL 10 46-00 97
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 5 26-13
5. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 10 45-00 96 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 5 26-04
6. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 10 44-06 95
Day 1: 5 20-04 Day 2: 5 24-02
7. Josh Douglas Isle, MN 10 43-10 94
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 28-02
8. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 43-10 93
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 26-13
9. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 10 42-14 92
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 26-07
10. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 9 42-10 91
Day 1: 5 29-10 Day 2: 4 13-00
11. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 10 42-04 90
Day 1: 5 21-00 Day 2: 5 21-04
12. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 10 41-14 89
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 22-00
13. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 10 41-09 88
Day 1: 5 22-01 Day 2: 5 19-08
14. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 41-08 87
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 22-00
15. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 10 40-00 86
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 24-08
16. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 10 39-15 85
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 21-05
17. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 10 39-14 84
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 24-04
18. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 10 39-07 83
Day 1: 5 26-14 Day 2: 5 12-09
19. Drew Benton Blakely, GA 10 39-04 82
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 22-01
20. Joseph Webster Hamilton, AL 10 38-02 81
Day 1: 5 19-10 Day 2: 5 18-08
21. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 9 38-00 80 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 27-02 Day 2: 4 10-14
22. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 10 37-12 79
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 20-10
23. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 10 37-11 78
Day 1: 5 22-04 Day 2: 5 15-07
24. Taku Ito Chiba JAPAN 10 37-07 77
Day 1: 5 21-10 Day 2: 5 15-13
25. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 10 37-06 76
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 20-08
26. Mike Huff London, KY 10 37-02 75
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 20-08
27. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 10 36-07 74
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 22-10
28. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 10 36-07 73
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 20-08
29. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 8 36-06 72
Day 1: 3 11-10 Day 2: 5 24-12
30. Wes Logan Springville, AL 9 36-05 71
Day 1: 4 12-11 Day 2: 5 23-10
31. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 10 36-04 70
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 20-06
32. Seth Feider New Market, MN 10 36-04 69
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 18-00
33. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 10 36-02 68
Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 5 15-08
34. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 10 35-15 67
Day 1: 5 19-06 Day 2: 5 16-09
35. Carl Jocumsen Queensland AUSTRALIA 10 35-06 66
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 15-08
36. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 35-06 65
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 18-02
37. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 9 35-02 64
Day 1: 4 13-14 Day 2: 5 21-04
38. Bryan New Saluda, SC 8 35-01 63
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 3 15-14
39. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 9 34-15 62
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 4 15-15
40. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 9 34-09 61
Day 1: 4 08-15 Day 2: 5 25-10
41. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 10 34-03 60
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 19-08
42. Derek Hudnall Denham Springs, LA 10 34-02 59
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 20-11
43. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 10 33-15 58
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 17-06
44. David Williams Newton, NC 10 33-12 57
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 20-15
45. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 10 33-10 56
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 20-09
46. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 10 33-07 55
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 16-03
47. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 10 33-01 54
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 19-02
48. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 9 32-15 53 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 13-08 Day 2: 5 19-07
49. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 10 32-14 52 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 15-00
50. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 10 32-07 51 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 20-05
51. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 9 32-04 50 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 4 13-01
52. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 10 32-03 49 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 15-08
53. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 10 31-08 48 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 17-14
54. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 10 31-03 47 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 14-10
55. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 10 31-02 46 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-12 Day 2: 5 10-06
56. Darold Gleason Many, LA 10 31-01 45 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 17-01
57. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 10 31-01 44 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 14-01
58. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 10 30-04 43 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 14-12
59. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 10 29-11 42 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 15-00
60. Cody Huff Ava, MO 10 29-08 41 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 17-07
61. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 10 29-05 40 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 14-04
62. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 10 29-00 39 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 16-13
63. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 9 28-13 38 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 4 09-05
64. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 7 28-12 37 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 11-09 Day 2: 3 17-03
65. Jake Whitaker Fairview, NC 10 28-10 36 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 15-08
66. Jeff Gustafson Keewatin Ontario CANADA 10 28-06 35 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 12-09
67. Masayuki Matsushita Tokoname-Shi JAPAN 7 28-04 34 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 23-08 Day 2: 2 04-12
68. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 7 28-03 33
Day 1: 4 16-10 Day 2: 3 11-09
69. Jay Yelas Turner, OR 9 28-02 32
Day 1: 4 11-11 Day 2: 5 16-07
70. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 9 28-02 31
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 4 16-00
71. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 10 27-15 30
Day 1: 5 17-10 Day 2: 5 10-05
72. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 10 27-12 29
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 13-09
73. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 27-09 28
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 15-01
74. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 10 27-09 27
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 13-07
75. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 10 27-08 26
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 13-14
76. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 10 27-07 25
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 12-00
77. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 9 27-07 24
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 4 13-07
78. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 8 27-01 23
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 3 10-10
79. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 9 26-13 22
Day 1: 4 10-12 Day 2: 5 16-01
80. Jesse Tacoronte Kissimmee, FL 9 25-08 21
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 4 15-04
81. Daisuke Aoki Minamitsurugun Yamanash 7 25-00 20
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 2 07-03
82. Joshua Stracner Vandiver, AL 10 23-06 19
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 10-02
83. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 8 23-04 18
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 5 15-13
84. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 8 21-03 17
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 3 07-05
85. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 7 19-10 16
Day 1: 2 04-05 Day 2: 5 15-05
86. David Fritts Lexington, NC 3 19-00 15
Day 1: 1 05-12 Day 2: 2 13-04
87. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 17-04 14
Day 1: 1 02-03 Day 2: 4 15-01
88. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 6 16-08 13
Day 1: 1 02-06 Day 2: 5 14-02
89. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 5 15-07 12
Day 1: 4 09-09 Day 2: 1 05-14
90. Frank Talley Temple, TX 4 15-00 11
Day 1: 1 03-15 Day 2: 3 11-01
91. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 12-12 10
Day 1: 3 09-00 Day 2: 2 03-12
92. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 3 10-03 9
Day 1: 2 07-02 Day 2: 1 03-01
93. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 1 04-02 8
Day 1: 1 04-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
94. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 1 03-05 7
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-05
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 08-15 $1,000.00
2 Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 09-10 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 74 424 1462-06
2 71 420 1557-06
----------------------------------
145 844 3019-12

by AnglersChannel

Fort Gibson Lake Set to Host 2022 Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship

Nation’s Top College Fishing Anglers Compete for the Opportunity to Fish as a Pro in the 2022 Toyota Series Championship and the Chance to Win up to $235,000

WAGONER, Okla. (Mar. 18, 2022) – The best college fishing teams from all across the nation will head to Wagoner, Oklahoma in two weeks, March 29-31, for the 2022 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship Presented by Lowrance at Fort Gibson Lake. The 13^th annual College Fishing National Championship – hosted by the Wagoner Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Wagoner – will feature 178 of the nation’s best collegiate anglers, competing for a $33,500 prize package, including a new Phoenix 518 pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard, and the chance to advance to the 2022 Toyota Series Championship to compete as a pro for a top prize of up to $235,000.

“The City of Wagoner and the Wagoner Area Chamber of Commerce are honored to host the 2022 Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship,” said Kristen Mallett, Executive Director of the Wagoner Area Chamber of Commerce. “We’re excited to have collegiate anglers from across the country coming to Wagoner to compete on Fort Gibson Lake and our businesses and community welcome you with open arms.”

Both members of the winning team and the runners-up at the 2022 Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship will advance to the 2022 Toyota Series Championship where they will compete as pros for a top prize of up to $235,000. Both members of the third-place team will advance to the 2021 Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers for a shot at winning a $33,500 Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The Drury University duo of Cole Breeden of Eldridge, Missouri and Cameron Smith of Nixa, Missouri took home the trophy last year at the 2021 College Fishing National Championship on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma – the first national title for Drury. The young anglers will be among the teams competing in this year’s event and are looking forward to one last hurrah in their college fishing partnership, and a chance to defend their title.

“Last year was such an awesome experience,” said Breeden. “Neither of us had ever fished in Oklahoma before, but during the whole tournament it just felt like we were fishing at home.

“Winning that championship was the greatest moment I’ve had in college fishing,” continued Breeden. “That type of opportunity doesn’t come around very often and all our family was there to witness it – I’ve never had a better experience than that.”

Smith graduated in 2021, but the Missouri duo qualified for the upcoming National Championship during the spring of his senior year, which means the two will be paired up one final time to take on Fort Gibson Lake.

“We haven’t had many events so far this year, so I’m hoping the National Championship will be a really good way to kick off the year,” said Breeden, who is set to graduate this spring with a bachelor’s degree in marketing.

“My College Fishing partner for this year [Hunter Baird of Springfield, Missouri] and I just qualified for the 2023 National Championship, finishing in 11^th place at the MLF College Fishing Open on Lake Chickamauga a few weeks ago, so that was a great start to my final college-fishing season.”

Breeden said the championship win in 2021 was a huge motivating factor for him throughout the 2021 season and furthered fueled his passion and fishing aspirations.

“There are a lot of emotions when you have a big win like that and it really is a motivating factor, even moving into this year,” said Breeden. “We’re the defending champs and I’d love to defend our title and bring home another win.”

Abu Garcia College Fishing anglers who qualified for the National Championship will have an on-site tournament meeting and registration, followed by pro angler seminars and more on Sunday, March 27^th at the SageNet Center in Tulsa, in conjunction with REDCREST 2022 – the Bass Pro Tour World Championship.

“I’m really excited about the Sunday that we get to spend at the MLF Outdoor Sports Expo with the Bass Pro Tour anglers during REDCREST,” said Breeden. “That will be a cool opportunity and a great way to start off our week – meeting sponsors and putting us in a good place to network and make it more attainable for those of us looking to further our fishing careers.”

Anglers will take off from Taylor’s Ferry North, located on Dock Road in Wagoner at 7 a.m. CTeach day of competition. Weigh-ins will be held at Taylor’s Ferry North starting at 3 p.m. and will be livestreamed daily. Fans are welcome to attend the event or tune in to the weigh-in and follow the online coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com .

Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI teams compete in three regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top ten teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual Abu Garcia College Fishing Open advance to the following year’s Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship.

Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Lake Norman Hosts Bassmaster College Series

North Carolina's Lake Norman will host the Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops March 25-26, 2022.

Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.

March 18, 2022

CORNELIUS, N.C. — Talented college fishing teams from across the country will converge on Lake Norman March 25-26, 2022 for the second stop on the Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops circuit.

Located in the western part of the state, the Catawba River reservoir holds both largemouth and spotted bass, and Bassmaster Elite Series pro Shane LeHew of Catawba, N.C., said he expects both species to play.

“The bass usually bed there around the end of March,” LeHew said. “So, there’s a chance they could be arriving at just the right time for a shallow-water event. That could mean bigger weights than usual.”

The normal pool for Lake Norman is close to 100 feet, but LeHew said the lake has been down over the winter, but it’s back to 96.8 feet now.

Shallow-water success, according to LeHew, will be found fishing shallow-running crankbaits and jigs around rocky banks, docks and some boat ramps that are in the water, while some deep-water success could be found around rock and brushpiles in 17 to 45 feet of water with Ned rigs, spoons and finesse jigs.

The larger fish in Lake Norman tend to live shallower, LeHew said, while schools of smaller spotted bass can be caught in deeper water.

The last College Series event held on Lake Norman in 2019 was won by the Jacksonville State University duo of William Nichols and Jamon Phillips, who weighed in 37 pounds, 15 ounces during the three-day event in late February.

The 2022 Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops season will feature four two-day regular-season events with the full field fishing both days of the competition. Teams will launch Friday and Saturday at 7:10 a.m. ET from Blythe Landing in Huntersville, N.C., with weigh-in back at Blythe Landing starting at 3:30 p.m.

Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.

by AnglersChannel

Cook Rides Stellar Day 1 Catch To Early Lead At Bassmaster Elite On Santee Cooper Lakes

Drew Cook of Cairo, Ga., is leading after Day 1 of the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite on Santee Cooper Lakes with 31 pounds, 13 ounces.

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

March 17, 2022

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Drew Cook has a history of making life difficult for himself with tough Day 1 performances.

But by catching 31 pounds, 13 ounces, Cook shed his streak of bad opening rounds and leads the field of 94 anglers after the first day of the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite Series on Santee Cooper Lakes.

The Cairo, Ga., resident holds more than a 2-pound lead over Wisconsin pro Caleb Kuphall, who landed in second with 29-10, and nearly a 4-pound lead over Louisiana pro Greg Hackney.

“I said I was going to act like I was 12 pounds behind from the get-go,” Cook said. “I have never won one of these things and have never really had a good start to an event. Hopefully, with a good start, we can keep it going.”

Cook secured his catch a couple of hours after takeoff at John C. Land III Sport Fishing Facility, all by sight fishing. He found many of the bass he caught on Thursday during practice, but they had not locked onto a bed. There was one male, however, that had locked on during practice and Cook located those females around that male on tournament day.

“I only had two females to start on, and I caught one of them right off the bat and then I caught the next one,” Cook said. “A couple of the ones I had seen swimming around had moved onto bed. We were done at like 11 a.m. I watched every one of them (eat it). It was a lot of fun.”

Right before the beginning of the official practice period, a front moved through the area bringing colder temperatures and rain to Lakes Marion and Moultrie, which have been a few feet lower than normal. But the subfreezing lows for the weekend and the beginning of the week have now been replaced with warmer days and nights.

Storms also blew through on the scheduled off day Wednesday, which allowed the water to rise some in Cook’s area, a key for getting those big females to commit to spawning. But the news wasn’t all good.

“What also happened with the water level coming up is carp are spawning in a lot of the areas now,” Cook said. “So, the water is kind of a chalky color.”

After the quick start, Cook used the rest of the afternoon to look for more bass that had moved up to spawn and found two that might help him Friday.

“I caught one male that I had marked today and I threw him back,” he said. “I found two more 6- or 7-pounders. It was really hard today because I had a 5-8, but I found a 7-pounder. I left both of them and hopefully, they made it through the afternoon.

“We are going to give it a shot. There still should be fish coming.”

Kuphall, meanwhile, had a much different approach to the Santee Cooper Lakes, targeting prespawn bass he could not see. It was a relatively slow day for the Mukwonago, Wis., native, but the ones that did bite were the right size.

“I only caught eight fish today,” he said. “It was really one area. I caught an 8-pounder, a 5 1/4 and a 6-pounder within probably 20 minutes just in one little stretch. I’m not sight fishing, I’m just pitching at cypress trees.

“These were prespawn fish. That 8-pounder I caught was ready.”

Kuphall said the fish he caught Thursday were not there during practice. The water level has stayed mostly stable in his area, and with warmer weather continuing, he hopes the fishing improves.

“I’m hoping more fish pull up throughout the night tonight,” he said. “We are going to have another warm night. I have fish in my areas that are coming to me, I’m just not getting that many bites. My morning bite has been really bad, and as the day progresses it gets better.”

During the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk earlier this month on Lake Hartwell, Hackney’s wife suggested to him they should retire to the host city of Greenville, S.C., but he rejected that idea for one reason.

“If she had said she wanted to come to Santee Cooper and retire, I would be all in,” he said. “I love this place. It is like where I grew up at home. It is the only place we go that is like that. I just enjoy fishing here.”

Hackney certainly made himself feel at home Thursday with 27-14. With water levels expected to rise more and air and water temperatures rising as well, the Gonzales, La., native said it should be the “perfect storm” for giant bags.

“I didn’t know I was going to catch that,” he said. “I had a much better day than I expected. I think things got better today, honestly. I was very fortunate and got the right bites.”

With conditions improving, Hackney hopes he will be able to move around some and capitalize in other areas.

“I’m afraid that it is going to get better in other places,” Hackney said. “Every time I’ve been here, it has been cold in practice and then warmed up and fish just start showing up everywhere.

“I fished where I had the best chance of catching 20 (pounds). I looked a lot and probably saw lots of bass the second day of practice, but never saw one I thought weighed 6 pounds.”

Lake Wylie, S.C., native Todd Auten anchored his 27-2 fourth-place bag with an 8-15 largemouth, earning him Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day honors.

Heading into Day 2, John Cox of DeBary, Fla., has taken over the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year lead with 271 points while Japan's Masayuki Matsushita is leading the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race with 210 points.

The full field will take off from John C Land III Sport Fishing Facility at 7:30 a.m. ET Friday and return for weigh-in starting at 3:30 p.m. The field will be cut to the Top 48 after the Day 2 weigh-in, with the Top 10 anglers from Day 3 advancing to compete on Championship Sunday for the first-place prize of $100,000.

Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.

2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes 3/17-3/20
Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 5 31-13 100
Day 1: 5 31-13
2. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 5 29-10 99
Day 1: 5 29-10
3. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 27-14 98
Day 1: 5 27-14
4. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 5 27-02 97 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 27-02
5. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 5 26-14 96
Day 1: 5 26-14
6. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 26-02 95
Day 1: 5 26-02
7. Masayuki Matsushita Tokoname-Shi JAPAN 5 23-08 94
Day 1: 5 23-08
8. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 5 22-04 93
Day 1: 5 22-04
9. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 5 22-01 92
Day 1: 5 22-01
10. Taku Ito Chiba JAPAN 5 21-10 91
Day 1: 5 21-10
11. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 21-00 90
Day 1: 5 21-00
12. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 5 20-12 89
Day 1: 5 20-12
13. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 5 20-10 88
Day 1: 5 20-10
14. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 5 20-04 87
Day 1: 5 20-04
15. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 5 19-14 86
Day 1: 5 19-14
15. Carl Jocumsen Queensland AUSTRALIA 5 19-14 86
Day 1: 5 19-14
17. Joseph Webster Hamilton, AL 5 19-10 84
Day 1: 5 19-10
18. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 5 19-08 83
Day 1: 5 19-08
18. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 19-08 83
Day 1: 5 19-08
20. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 5 19-06 81
Day 1: 5 19-06
21. John Cox DeBary, FL 5 19-03 80
Day 1: 5 19-03
21. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 5 19-03 80
Day 1: 5 19-03
21. Bryan New Saluda, SC 5 19-03 80
Day 1: 5 19-03
24. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 5 19-00 77
Day 1: 5 19-00
25. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 5 18-12 76
Day 1: 5 18-12
26. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 18-10 75
Day 1: 5 18-10
27. Seth Feider New Market, MN 5 18-04 74
Day 1: 5 18-04
28. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 5 17-14 73
Day 1: 5 17-14
29. Daisuke Aoki Minamitsurugun Yamanash 5 17-13 72
Day 1: 5 17-13
30. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 5 17-10 71
Day 1: 5 17-10
31. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 17-04 70
Day 1: 5 17-04
31. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 5 17-04 70
Day 1: 5 17-04
33. Drew Benton Blakely, GA 5 17-03 68
Day 1: 5 17-03
34. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 5 17-02 67
Day 1: 5 17-02
35. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 5 17-00 66
Day 1: 5 17-00
36. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 5 16-14 65
Day 1: 5 16-14
37. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 16-13 64
Day 1: 5 16-13
38. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 5 16-11 63
Day 1: 5 16-11
39. Mike Huff London, KY 5 16-10 62
Day 1: 5 16-10
40. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 4 16-10 61
Day 1: 4 16-10
41. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 5 16-09 60
Day 1: 5 16-09
41. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 5 16-09 60
Day 1: 5 16-09
43. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 5 16-07 58
Day 1: 5 16-07
43. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 5 16-07 58
Day 1: 5 16-07
45. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 5 15-15 56
Day 1: 5 15-15
46. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 5 15-14 55
Day 1: 5 15-14
47. Jeff Gustafson Keewatin Ontario CANADA 5 15-13 54
Day 1: 5 15-13
48. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 5 15-10 53
Day 1: 5 15-10
49. Josh Douglas Isle, MN 5 15-08 52
Day 1: 5 15-08
49. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 5 15-08 52
Day 1: 5 15-08
49. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 5 15-08 52
Day 1: 5 15-08
52. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 5 15-07 49
Day 1: 5 15-07
53. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 15-01 48
Day 1: 5 15-01
54. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 14-11 47
Day 1: 5 14-11
54. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 5 14-11 47
Day 1: 5 14-11
56. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 5 14-03 45
Day 1: 5 14-03
57. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 14-02 44
Day 1: 5 14-02
58. Darold Gleason Many, LA 5 14-00 43
Day 1: 5 14-00
58. Chad Pipkens DeWitt, MI 5 14-00 43
Day 1: 5 14-00
60. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 5 13-15 41
Day 1: 5 13-15
61. Michael Iaconelli Pittsgrove, NJ 5 13-14 40
Day 1: 5 13-14
62. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 4 13-14 39
Day 1: 4 13-14
63. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 5 13-13 38
Day 1: 5 13-13
64. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 5 13-10 37
Day 1: 5 13-10
64. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 5 13-10 37
Day 1: 5 13-10
66. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 4 13-08 35
Day 1: 4 13-08
67. Derek Hudnall Denham Springs, LA 5 13-07 34
Day 1: 5 13-07
68. Joshua Stracner Vandiver, AL 5 13-04 33
Day 1: 5 13-04
69. Jake Whitaker Fairview, NC 5 13-02 32
Day 1: 5 13-02
70. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 5 13-01 31
Day 1: 5 13-01
71. David Williams Newton, NC 5 12-13 30
Day 1: 5 12-13
72. Wes Logan Springville, AL 4 12-11 29
Day 1: 4 12-11
73. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 12-08 28
Day 1: 5 12-08
74. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 5 12-03 27
Day 1: 5 12-03
75. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 5 12-02 26
Day 1: 5 12-02
75. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 12-02 26
Day 1: 5 12-02
77. Cody Huff Ava, MO 5 12-01 24
Day 1: 5 12-01
78. Jay Yelas Turner, OR 4 11-11 23
Day 1: 4 11-11
79. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 3 11-10 22
Day 1: 3 11-10
80. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 4 11-09 21
Day 1: 4 11-09
81. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 4 10-12 20
Day 1: 4 10-12
82. Jesse Tacoronte Kissimmee, FL 5 10-04 19
Day 1: 5 10-04
83. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 4 09-09 18
Day 1: 4 09-09
84. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 3 09-00 17
Day 1: 3 09-00
85. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 4 08-15 16
Day 1: 4 08-15
86. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 3 07-07 15
Day 1: 3 07-07
87. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 2 07-02 14
Day 1: 2 07-02
88. David Fritts Lexington, NC 1 05-12 13
Day 1: 1 05-12
89. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 2 04-05 12
Day 1: 2 04-05
90. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 1 04-02 11
Day 1: 1 04-02
91. Frank Talley Temple, TX 1 03-15 10
Day 1: 1 03-15
92. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 1 02-06 9
Day 1: 1 02-06
93. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 1 02-03 8
Day 1: 1 02-03
94. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 08-15 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 74 424 1462-06
----------------------------------
74 424 1462-06

by AnglersChannel

AC Insider Podcast "Following His Heart"

This week Chris & The boys welcome in Bass Pro Tour Angler Timmy Horton to discuss his recent retirement announcement at the end of the season and his new found focus and direction.

by AnglersChannel

Rookie Christian Greico Wins MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Bass Boat Technologies Stop 2 on the Harris Chain of Lakes

Greico Boats Final-Day Tally of 18 Pounds, 5 Ounces to Best 157 Anglers and Earn Top Prize of $100,000

LEESBURG, Fla. (March 16, 2022) – The last time Major League Fishing had held an event on the Harris Chain of Lakes – the AAA-level 2021 Toyota Series – 22-year-old Tampa, Florida angler Christian Greico landed “Jim Thomas”, a 9-pound, 12-ounce giant largemouth that had been tagged by the Friends of Lake Apopka and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as part of the Lake Apopka Fish Tag Challenge. Greico was awarded the top prize of $5,000 for catching that bass, and used those winnings as part of his deposit to compete in his rookie season against the pros on the 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me.

Wednesday, it all came full circle for the Florida rookie. Greico weighed in a five-bass limit totaling 18 pounds, 5 ounces, to win the four-day Bass Boat Technologies Stop 2 at the Harris Chain of Lakes Presented by Frogg Toggs in Leesburg, Florida. Greico edged the second-place pro Andrew Loberg of Rocklin, California, by 1-pound, 8-ounces, and earned the top payout of $100,000 – or 20 tagged bass.

“I really can’t believe how this week turned out,” Greico said. “Coming back to the ramp with only 18 pounds today – I thought for sure that someone had busted a 20+ pound bag. I was thrilled to just be in the top 10 and standing there on the final day with (MLF emcee) Chris Jones. To get it done today – man, I’ve had a blessed week. All glory to God on this one.”

After targeting offshore shell beds in Lake Harris with a Carolina-rigged Googan Slim Shake and a Googan Dart on the first three days of competition, Greico pivoted on the final day and scrapped his shell bed pattern to run to Lake Apopka and flip a jig for the day.

“I could tell yesterday that the shell bite was deteriorating on me. I decided to start on the pattern first thing this morning, but once I drug through there for 10 to 15 minutes and didn’t get a bite, I knew it probably wasn’t going to happen in Lake Harris. So, I made the decision to run to Apopka and put the flipping stick in my hand. I knew if those fish were biting, it was only a matter of time until I caught a few big ones.

“It took me about five minutes before I got my first bite, and that’s when I knew it could happen,” the 23-year-old pro said.

Greico’s flipping fish came on a Googan Nuke Punch, with a ¾-ounce weight.

Despite the fast start to his career, Greico plans to play it conservative and ensure he remains in the sport for the long haul.

“The money is great, don’t get me wrong, but I’m not out here for the money,” Greico went on to say. “I do this because I love it, and to earn these trophies. This is a huge confidence booster – this is where I’m meant to be. I can have a career as a pro bass fisherman and go toe-to-toe against the best guys. It’s an honor to even be out here competing against them. To win, in just my second event – it blows my mind.

“I’m probably going to bed early tonight, and I’m putting this money in the bank and saving it. It can get pretty expensive chasing around these bass.”

The top 10 pros at the Bass Boat Technologies Stop 2 on the Harris Chain of Lakes finished:

1^st:          Christian Greico, Tampa, Fla., five bass, 18-5
2^nd:         Andrew Loberg, Rocklin, Calif., five bass, 16-13
3^rd:         Shonn Goodwin, Moore, Okla., five bass, 16-0
4^th:         Corey Neece, Bristol, Tenn., five bass, 15-1
5^th:         Jason Reyes, Huffman, Texas, five bass, 14-14
6^th:         Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., five bass, 14-14
7^th:         Grae Buck, Green Lane, Pa., five bass, 11-8
8^th:         Grant Galloway, Houlka, Miss., five bass, 10-14
9^th:         Jeff Reynolds, Calera, Okla., four bass, 10-11
10^th:       Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 9-12

For a full list of results visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 49 bass weighing 138 pounds, 12 ounces caught by the final 10 pros Wednesday. Nine of the final 10 pros weighed in a five-bass limit.

The four-day MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Bass Boat Technologies Stop 2 on the Harris Chain of Lakes Presented by Frogg Toggs was hosted by Visit Lake County. The event will premiere on the CBS Sports Network on Saturday, July 16 from 7 to 9 a.m. ET.

In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Sunday and Monday. The top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advanced to Tuesday, then only the top 10 pros based on cumulative weight from the first three days continued competition on Championship Wednesday, where weights were zeroed and the winner was determined by the heaviest weight from the final day of competition.

The Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Bass Boat Technologies Stop 2 on the Harris Chain of Lakes Presented by Frogg Toggs marked the second regular-season event of the year for the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me. The next event for Pro Circuit anglers will be the Lithium Pros Stop 3 at Pickwick Lake Presented by Covercraft, April 21-24 in Counce, Tennessee.

Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE Presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship, where they will compete for up to $235,000. The 2022 TITLE will be on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York on Aug. 16-21, and is hosted by the Town of Massena.

Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Tulsa and Grand Lake Ready for Major League Fishing’s REDCREST 2022 Presented by Costa Sunglasses

Bass Pro Tour Championship to Showcase Top 41 Anglers Competing on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees for $300,000 Top Prize, Outdoor Sports Expo to Take Place at Tulsa’s SageNet Center at Expo Square

TULSA, Okla. (March 16, 2022) – Major League Fishing’s (MLF) REDCREST 2022 presented by Costa Sunglasses, the Bass Pro Tour championship, is set to visit Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees next week, March 23-27, to crown professional bass fishing’s newest world champion.

The five-day tournament, shot for television broadcast on CBS, the Discovery Channel and the Outdoor Channel, will showcase the top 41 Bass Pro Tour anglers from the 2021 season competing for the prestigious REDCREST Championship and the top prize of $300,000.

Originally scheduled to be held at Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees last year, MLF officials shifted REDCREST 2021 to another venue after the cancellation of the REDCREST Outdoor Sports Expo that had been scheduled to be held in conjunction with the event. It’s now all systems go for 2022 and the league, the professional anglers, and fishing fans from all over the country are excited for Tulsa-based Major League Fishing’s Homecoming event.

“We are proud to host the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2022 next week,” Tulsa Mayor G. T. Bynum said. “This will be a large, family-friendly event with world-class anglers, and we also get to watch a Tulsa-based company thrive and shine on a national stage.”

“Working hand-in-hand with Major League Fishing on this event is always a joy and this year is no different,” said Ashleigh Bachert, Interim SVP for Tulsa Regional Tourism. “You can definitely feel the local investment from this Tulsa company as their all-in mentality for putting on the absolute best event is dialed to eleven. REDCREST 2022 will be one for the - hooks.”

“We’re hitting it right when the lake is coming out of hibernation – it’s probably the best week of the year that this event could happen,” said Edwin Evers of Talala, Oklahoma, who won the inaugural REDCREST event in 2019 on the Mississippi River. “It’s like light-switch week. The weather is looking good, and this event could be off the charts good.

“Guys are going to be able to catch them every way you can possibly imagine,” Evers continued. “I expect that it will mainly be a prespawn, staging-type bite, but I would not at all be shocked if there were fish spawning by the end of next week. The key to doing well is going to be staying fluid and changing with the conditions.”

Evers said that he thinks if an angler could catch 10 to 12 scorable bass per day they will be doing alright.

“The Bass Pro Tour can be so hard to predict, because of the catch-all-you-can format and the zeroing of the weights – it could be anywhere from 45 to 90 pounds on that final day,” Evers said. “But the lake is in really good shape, and guys are going to be spread out.

“I’m most excited about this event happening right here, in the heart of the country,” Evers said. “This community eats, sleeps, and breathes bass fishing. I expect that a lot of people are going to have a lot of fun, and this one is going to be a really special event.”

As part of the event, Major League Fishing is hosting a FREE, family-friendly Outdoor Sports Expo Presented by Costa throughout the weekend, March 25-27 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day at the SageNet Center at Expo Square in Tulsa. Fishing and outdoor enthusiasts will have the opportunity to visit more than 130 booths and vendors, showcasing the latest and greatest in fishing, boating, hunting, camping and more. The biggest names in the outdoor industry will be on hand, including all 80 of the professional anglers that compete on the Bass Pro Tour, fishing legend Jimmy Houston and The Bone Collector’s Michael Waddell. Children are welcome to visit the Bank of Oklahoma Kids Zone to meet Skye & Marshall from PAW Patrol, fish for catfish in the Kids Fishing Pond, show off their artistic skills at the coloring stations, and more. Country music star Blane Howard will perform free concerts at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 25 and Saturday, March 26, while Clayton Anderson will headline the free concert series with a performance on Sunday, March 27 at 4:30 p.m. Giveaways and prizes include signed MLF angler jerseys, rods and reels, 50” and 60” TVs, gift cards , and more. On Friday and Saturday night, one lucky attendee will play for $100,000 in the Bully Dog Pick ‘Til You Win game, and on Sunday one lucky attendee will walk away with a brand new 2022 Toyota Tundra. For more information on the MLF Outdoor Sports Expo Presented by Costa, visit REDCRESTExpo.com.

All 41 Anglers will compete on Days 1 (Wednesday) and 2 (Thursday) of the event. After two days of competition, the field is cut to just the top 20 based on two-day total cumulative weight. The remaining 20 anglers are split into two groups – 10 compete on Day 3 (Friday) and 10 compete on Day 4 (Saturday). The top five anglers from each group based on total single-day weight will advance to the fifth and final day of competition (Sunday), where weights are zeroed and the angler that catches the highest total weight on the final day will be crowned the REDCREST 2022 champion.

Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, BallyBet, Bass Cat, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Covercraft, Favorite Fishing, Garmin, General Tire, Googan Baits, Grundéns, Guaranteed Rate, Humminbird, Lowrance, Luminox, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Nitro Performance Boats, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Power Stop, Rapala, Starbrite, Toro, Toyota, Wrangler, Yellowstone Bourbon and Zoom.

by AnglersChannel

California Rookie Loberg Paces Field at MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Bass Boat Technologies Stop 2 on the Harris Chain of Lakes

Final 10 Anglers Now Set for Final-Day Shootout for $135k on Championship Wednesday

LEESBURG, Fla. (March 15, 2022) – Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit rookie Andrew Loberg of Rocklin, California, caught a five-bass limit Tuesday weighing 22 pounds, 10 ounces to lead the final 10 anglers and advance to the final day of competition at the Bass Boat Technologies Stop 2 at the Harris Chain of Lakes Presented by Frogg Toggs in Leesburg, Florida. Loberg narrowly edged the reigning Pro Circuit Angler of the Year (AOY) Michael Neal of Dayton, Tennessee, by just 8 ounces.

After starting the day in 31^st place, Neal weighed in the largest limit of the event – five bass totaling 27-11 – to vault up the leaderboard into second place. Oklahoma pro Jeff Reynolds also catapulted up the leaderboard, weighing in a limit totaling 27-4 to end the day in third after starting the day in 44^th place. Tampa, Florida rookie Christian Greico, who led the tournament after Day 2, fell to 8^thwith a limit weighing 11-4.

The final 10 anglers are now set, and competition will resume tomorrow morning on Championship Wednesday, where weights are zeroed, and the angler that catches the heaviest five-fish weight will earn the top prize of up to $135,000.

The four-day tournament, hosted by Visit Lake County, marks the second regular-season event of the year for the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me.

“I’m stoked to be fishing Day 4,” Loberg said. “This is the first time I’ve ever made the final day of a four-day event. Usually, it’s always been three days for me. So I’m really excited for tomorrow. The weights are zeroed, everyone is even, and I’m just going to have to go out and fish my hardest and get everything I can get.”

Loberg spent Tuesday fishing in Lake Eustis, targeting postspawn fish in the grass.

“The fishing here really reminds me of Clear Lake, which is my home lake in California,” Loberg said. “There is lots of shallow grass, the tules, and dirty-ish water. I really like targeting postspawn fish and they love going to the grass after they spawn. I found a few areas and I’ve really just capitalized on those and milked them each day. And that has helped, because I’ve learned more and more each day about the spots and what is going on.

“The bites are coming in little spurts,” Loberg continued. “The morning bite each day has been my best deal, especially for the bigger bites. As the day goes on, it’s harder to get multiple bites – it’s kind of one here, one there. But the weather is changing so much, and I fished a lot of different baits today. You kind of almost have to practice in your areas to see how they are going to bite with the changing conditions.”

With just one day of competition left, Loberg is excited at his chances.

“I feel like I’ve learned where the sweet spots are, and if I can figure out a few other baits it could be a good day. I know I’m going to be throwing a big swimbait tomorrow – it’s definitely going to take more than 20 pounds to win, so I really need to capitalize on them in the morning. I’ve put a lot of pressure on that area over the last two days, we’ll see how it holds up.”

The top 10 pros advancing to the final day of competition on the Harris Chain of Lakes are:

1^st:          Andrew Loberg, Rocklin, Calif., 15 bass, 57-11
2^nd:         Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 15 bass, 57-3
3^rd:         Jeff Reynolds, Calera, Okla., 15 bass, 55-5
4^th:         Grant Galloway, Houlka, Miss., 15 bass, 52-7
5^th:         Shonn Goodwin, Moore, Okla., 15 bass, 51-6
6^th:         Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 15 bass, 49-14
7^th:         Corey Neece, Bristol, Tenn., 15 bass, 49-11
8^th:         Christian Greico, Tampa, Fla., 15 bass, 49-4
9^th:         Grae Buck, Green Lane, Pa., 15 bass, 48-4
10^th:       Jason Reyes, Huffman, Texas, 15 bass, 48-2

Finishing in 11^th through 50^th are:

11^th:       Clark Reehm, Elm Grove, La., 15 bass, 47-13, $11,000
12^th:       Aaron Britt, Yuba City, Calif., 15 bass, 47-12, $11,000
13^th:       Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 47-8, $12,000
14^th:       Chase Serafin, White Lake, Mich., 15 bass, 47-7, $11,000
15^th:       Kurt Mitchell, Milford, Del., 15 bass, 47-4, $11,000
16^th:       Lance Crawford, Broken Bow, Okla., 15 bass, 47-1, $11,000
17^th:       Miles Howe, San Juan Capistrano, Calif., 15 bass, 46-14, $11,000
18^th:       Todd Walters, Kernersville, N.C., 15 bass, 46-7, $11,000
19^th:       Michael Matthee, Centurion, South Africa, 15 bass, 46-0, $11,000
20^th:       Jimmy Neece Jr., Bristol, Tenn., 15 bass, 45-14, $11,000
21^st:       Mitch Crane, Columbus, Miss., 15 bass, 45-3, $10,500
22^nd:      Dicky Newberry, Houston, Texas, 15 bass, 45-2, $10,500
23^rd:      Casey Scanlon, Eldon, Mo., 15 bass, 45-0, $10,500
24^th:       Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 15 bass, 44-14, $10,500
25^th:       Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 15 bass, 44-12, $10,500
26^th:       Kerry Milner, Fisher, Ark., 15 bass, 44-8, $10,500
27^th:       Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 15 bass, 44-6, $10,500
28^th:       Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., 15 bass, 44-5, $10,500
29^th:       Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 15 bass, 44-5, $10,500
30^th:       Rusty Salewske, Alpine, Calif., 15 bass, 44-2, $10,500
31^st:       Derrick Snavely, Piney Flats, Tenn., 15 bass, 44-0, $10,000
32^nd:      Ramie Colson Jr., Cadiz, Ky., 15 bass, 43-15, $10,000
33^rd:      Bill McDonald, Greenwood, Ind., 14 bass, 43-13, $10,000
34^th:       Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 15 bass, 43-8, $10,000
35^th:       Jacopo Gallelli, Florence, Italy, 15 bass, 43-6, $10,000
36^th:       Matt Becker, Finleyville, Pa., 15 bass, 43-0, $10,000
37^th:       Steve York, Bronson, Mich., 15 bass, 42-9, $10,000
38^th:       Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., 15 bass, 42-7, $10,000
39^th:       Brad Knight, Lancing, Tenn., 15 bass, 42-7, $10,000
40^th:       Mike McClelland, Blue Eye, Mo., 15 bass, 42-5, $10,000
41^st:       Colby Miller, Elmer, La., 15 bass, 41-15, $10,000
42^nd:      Laramy Strickland, Bushnell, Fla., 15 bass, 41-15, $10,000
43^rd:      Tommy Dickerson, Orange, Texas, 15 bass, 41-2, $10,000
44^th:       Jon Canada, Helena, Ala., 15 bass, 39-9, $10,000
45^th:       Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 39-9, $10,000
46^th:       Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, 14 bass, 39-6, $10,000
47^th:       Jimmy Reese, Witter Springs, Calif., 15 bass, 37-15, $10,000
48^th:       Tom Monsoor, La Crosse, Wis., 15 bass, 35-14, $10,000
49^th:       Phillip Dutra, Guntersville, Ala., 14 bass, 35-14, $10,000
50^th:       Stuart Arthur, Benton, Mo., 15 bass, 35-9, $10,000

For a full list of results visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 249 bass weighing 716 pounds, 13 ounces caught by the 50 pros Tuesday. The catch included 49 five-bass limits.

In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of 157 anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Sunday and Monday. The top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advanced to Tuesday. Now, only the top 10 pros, based on cumulative weight from the first three days, will continue competition on Championship Wednesday, where weights will be zeroed and anglers will compete in a one-day shootout for the grand prize of up to $135,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers.

The four-day MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Bass Boat Technologies Stop 2 on the Harris Chain of Lakes Presented by Frogg Toggs features a total purse of more than $850,000.

The final 10 anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET Wednesday from the Ski Beach at the Venetian Gardens, located at 201 E. Lake Harris Drive in Leesburg. Wednesday’s Championship weigh-in will also be held at the Ski Beach at 3:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to attend the morning take off and afternoon weigh-in, and also follow the live on-the-water action online on MLF NOW!beginning at 8 a.m. ET at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Bass Boat Technologies Stop 2 on the Harris Chain of Lakes Presented by Frogg Toggs will feature live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere on the CBS Sports Network on Saturday, July 16 from 7 to 9 a.m. ET.

by AnglersChannel

Bassmaster Kayak Series Tackles Harris Chain

The Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX will visit the Harris Chain March 19.

Photo by Kyle Jessie/B.A.S.S.

March 15, 2022

LEESBURG, Fla. — For the first time in the young history of the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX, anglers will travel to Florida to tackle the Harris Chain of Lakes March 19. Bassmaster Elite Series veteran Cliff Prince of Palatka, Fla., believes the bass will be in all stages of the spawn when they arrive.

“There should be plenty of grass and the fish should be in all three stages of the spawn,” Prince said. “It ought to be really good fishing this time of the year and, with it being a kayak tournament, the Harris Chain has ramps everywhere and they are all pretty convenient.”

Known as one of the best big bass venues in the country, the Harris Chain of Lakes has hosted a multitude of major tournaments including a Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops stop in January and an Elite Series event in February already this year.
In kayak tournaments, instead of a standard weigh-in that requires scales measuring pounds and ounces, when a kayak angler catches a bass they will photograph it lying on an approved measuring board and submit the photo through a special mobile app provided by TourneyX. The boards will measure each bass in inches down to a quarter of an inch, and the angler with the longest five-bass limit will win.

At any given one-day bass boat event, Prince said it generally takes 30-plus pounds — the equivalent of more than 100 inches in a kayak tournament — to win.

During this time of the year, Prince said any of the eight lakes on the chain could produce a winning bag. Each lake sets up a little bit differently and varies in water clarity. Some of the smaller lakes on the Harris Chain like Beauclair and Carlton could be easier for kayak anglers to break down.

There are several different types of grass that the bass will spawn around this time of the year, Prince said.

“A lot of fish spawn in the Kissimmee grass and a lot of fish spawn on the pads around the bank,” he said. “Since the hydrilla and eelgrass have started coming back, a lot of those fish spawn offshore. It depends on what they prefer to do. This place is really diverse and you can fish your strengths. It is a really neat place to fish.”

Flipping around any type of grass will be a productive pattern for many anglers, Prince said, while a lipless crankbait, ChatterBait and a Carolina rig have historically caught big bags when bass are in and around the spawn.

“If you like flipping and pitching, you can do that,” he said. “Then you can throw a lipless and a ChatterBait offshore and maybe even throw a jerkbait if the water is good enough.”

Anglers will be able to take off from any public launch and begin fishing at 7:15 a.m. ET. Fishing will conclude at 3:15 p.m. and winners will be announced at 4:45 p.m. at the Venetian Center in Leesburg.

Fans can follow the live leaderboard on Bassmaster.com and TourneyX.com.

by AnglersChannel

Rookie Greico Vaults into Lead at MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Bass Boat Technologies Stop 2 on the Harris Chain of Lakes

Tampa, Florida Pro Boats Limit Weighing 22-5 To Lead After Day 2, Top 50 Advance to Tuesday

LEESBURG, Fla. (March 14, 2022) – After starting the day in 28^th place, rookie pro Christian Greico of Tampa, Florida, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Monday weighing 22 pounds, 5 ounces, to take the lead after Day 2 of the Bass Boat Technologies Stop 2 at the Harris Chain of Lakes Presented by Frogg Toggs . Greico’s two-day total of 10 bass weighing 38 pounds even gives him a 1-pound, 13-ounce cushion heading into Day 3 of the four-day competition that features 157 professional bass-fishing anglers competing for a top cash award of up to $135,000.

The event, hosted by Lake County, Florida, marks the second regular-season event of the year for the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me.

The 2013 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Champion Kerry Milner of Fisher, Arkansas, sits in second place with 36-3. South African pro Michael Matthee weighed the largest limit of the day – 22 pounds, 6 ounces – to move inside the top 50 cut in 18^th place, while Abu Garcia pro Justin Lucas of Guntersville, Alabama, also moved into the top 50 in 24^th place with a limit weighing 21-10. Reigning Angler of the Year Michael Neal of Dayton, Tennessee, also made the top-50 cut and will start Day 3 in 31st place with 29-8. The field is now cut to 50 for Tuesday’s competition with only the top 10 anglers advancing to Championship Wednesday.

“It feels really good to be leading,” an excited Greico said after weighing in. “When I saw the schedule last year and saw the Harris Chain, I knew this was probably going to be my best shot at winning one of these events on the Pro Circuit. Today started off slow, but as the water heated up it got pretty good. It seemed like every decision that I made today just worked out for me.”

Greico said he spent the day fishing a mix of offshore shell bars and flipping Kissimmee grass lines. He estimated that he caught around 10 keepers throughout the day, with half coming deep and half coming shallow. Although he declined to mention any specifics, Greico hinted that he was dragging just one bait out deep.

“There are definitely a lot of fish offshore – I can see them on my LiveScope,” Greico said. “They’re just not biting well right now, and I really have to grind it out on the spots to get them to bite.

“Tomorrow I’m going to run back to the offshore stuff first thing in the morning and see if they bite for me,” Greico continued. “If that’s not going on, I’ll go up shallow and put the flipping stick in my hand and get to work. Then I’ll go check the offshore fish later in the day to see if they’ll fire.”

The top 50 pros that made the cut after Day 2 and will fish Tuesday on the Harris Chain of Lakes are:

1^st:          Christian Greico, Tampa, Fla., 10 bass, 38-0
2^nd:         Kerry Milner, Fisher, Ark., 10 bass, 36-3
3^rd:         Jason Reyes, Huffman, Texas, 10 bass, 35-10
4^th:         Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., 10 bass, 35-6
5^th:         Andrew Loberg, Rocklin, Calif., 10 bass, 35-1
6^th:         Shonn Goodwin, Moore, Okla., 10 bass, 34-8
7^th:         Aaron Britt, Yuba City, Calif., 10 bass, 34-3
8^th:         Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 10 bass, 34-2
9^th:         Grant Galloway, Houlka, Miss., 10 bass, 33-10
10^th:       Colby Miller, Elmer, La., 10 bass, 33-1
11^th:       Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., 10 bass, 32-15
12^th:       Miles Howe, San Juan Capistrano, Calif., 10 bass, 32-13
13^th:       Dicky Newberry, Houston, Texas, 10 bass, 32-10
14^th:       Chase Serafin, White Lake, Mich., 10 bass, 32-9
15^th:       Corey Neece, Bristol, Tenn., 10 bass, 31-14
16^th:       Mitch Crane, Columbus, Miss., 10 bass, 31-11
17^th:       Laramy Strickland, Bushnell, Fla., 10 bass, 31-6
18^th:       Michael Matthee, Centurion, South Africa, 10 bass, 31-2
19^th:       Casey Scanlon, Eldon, Mo., 10 bass, 31-0
20^th:       Kurt Mitchell, Milford, Del., 10 bass, 30-15
21^st:       Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 10 bass, 30-11
22^nd:      Rusty Salewske, Alpine, Calif., 10 bass, 30-9
23^rd:      Todd Walters, Kernersville, N.C., 10 bass, 30-7
24^th:       Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 30-5
25^th:       Clark Reehm, Elm Grove, La., 10 bass, 30-5
26^th:       Derrick Snavely, Piney Flats, Tenn., 10 bass, 30-5
27^th:       Matt Becker, Finleyville, Pa., 10 bass, 29-14
28^th:       Jon Canada, Helena, Ala., 10 bass, 29-13
29^th:       Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 10 bass, 29-10
30^th:       Lance Crawford, Broken Bow, Okla., 10 bass, 29-9
31^st:       Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 29-8
32^nd:      Mike McClelland, Blue Eye, Mo., 10 bass, 29-7
33^rd:      Ramie Colson Jr., Cadiz, Ky., 10 bass, 29-7
34^th:       Bill McDonald, Greenwood, Ind., nine bass, 29-6
35^th:       Jimmy Neece Jr., Bristol, Tenn., 10 bass, 29-6
36^th:       Tom Monsoor, La Crosse, Wis., 10 bass, 29-2
37^th:       Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 10 bass, 28-14
38^th:       Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 10 bass, 28-13
39^th:       Stuart Arthur, Benton, Mo., 10 bass, 28-4
40^th:       Grae Buck, Green Lane, Pa., 10 bass, 28-4
41^st:       Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 28-4
42^nd:      Tommy Dickerson, Orange, Texas, 10 bass, 28-3
43^rd:      Jacopo Gallelli, Florence, Italy, 10 bass, 28-1
44^th:       Jeff Reynolds, Calera, Okla., 10 bass, 28-1
45^th:       Brad Knight, Lancing, Tenn., 10 bass, 28-0
46^th:       Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, 10 bass, 27-13
47^th:       Phillip Dutra, Guntersville, Ala., nine bass, 27-10
48^th:       Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 27-9
49^th:       Jimmy Reese, Witter Springs, Calif., 10 bass, 27-8
50^th:       Steve York, Bronson, Mich., 10 bass, 27-6

A full list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Lucas earned Monday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award with a largemouth that weighed 9 pounds, 13 ounces.

Overall, there were 746 bass weighing 1,913 pounds even caught by 156 pros Monday. The catch included 138 five-bass limits.

In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of 157 anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Sunday and Monday. Now the top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advance to Tuesday. Only the top 10 pros, based on cumulative weight from the first three days, will continue competition on Championship Wednesday, where weights will be zeroed and anglers will compete in a one-day shootout for the grand prize of up to $135,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers.

The four-day MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Bass Boat Technologies Stop 2 on the Harris Chain of Lakes Presented by Frogg Toggs, hosted by Visit Lake County, features a total purse of more than $850,000.

Anglers will take off at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from the Ski Beach at the Venetian Gardens, located at 201 E. Lake Harris Drive in Leesburg. Weigh-ins will also be held at the Ski Beach daily at 3:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to attend the morning take offs and afternoon weigh-ins, and also follow the live on-the-water action all four days of competition online on MLF NOW! beginning at 8 a.m. ET at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

by AnglersChannel

THE FUTURE OF FISHING SCENT TECHNOLOGY: BAITFUEL FISH ATTRACTANT

OCEAN SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI – March 5, 2022. Building on two-plus years of development and testing by American Baitworks’ world-class science research team, the company is pleased to announce the future of fishing scent technology - BaitFuel Fish Attractant has arrived.

BaitFuel products have undergone extensive scientific research and testing to ensure the mix of bite-inducing ingredients is fully optimized for maximum performance in BaitFuel Gel and BaitFuel integrated soft plastics. BaitFuel is supercharged with F.A.S.T. (Fish Active Scent Technology) – water-based technology that releases scent easily and mimics the smell and taste of real prey – getting more bites and longer hold times for your bait! BaitFuel is scientifically engineered to stimulate a fish’s predator instinct.

Learn more about BaitFuel by visiting BaitFuel.com

BaitFuel Gel

BaitFuel Gel works with any bait type. – It can easily be added to your favorite bag of soft plastics to marinate your baits overnight or on tournament day – giving you the full power of BaitFuel with every cast. Because it is a gel, BaitFuel will stay on your baits longer and is super-slick to help your lure slide through cover easier. Unlike other scents – BaitFuel Gel is virtually odorless to humans and will not stain your carpets.

You can even try BaitFuel Gel on your hard baits! Bassmaster Pro Bryan New has been using BaitFuel on his jerk baits and believes it is giving him a definite performance advantage when finicky bass are only nosing the bait.

BaitFuel Soft Plastics

Coming soon to NetBait and NetBait STH Finesse Series products, anglers will get to fish with the maximum potency of BaitFuel. We achieve this by infusing each bait, in the manufacturing process, with the scent and taste enhancers throughout. When in water, the soft plastic bait releases BaitFuel creating a powerful scent cloud around your Paca Craw, Flat Sided Shad, and all your favorite NetBait and STH Finesse Series Baits.

Stay tuned for new product releases from NetBait with BaitFuel later this Spring.

Proven on the water BaitFuel is scientifically engineered to stimulate a fish’s predator instinct.

BaitFuel Availability

BaitFuel Fish Attractant Gel will be available very soon at major tackle retailers and national chains across the country.

NetBait and NetBait STH Finesse Series integrated soft plastics will be available in early May at your favorite tackle retailer.

Tackle dealers should note: BaitFuel Gel and Bait samples are available now by contacting American Baitworks.

About American Baitworks

American Baitworks Co. is an innovative American-based fishing tackle company that provides custom manufacturing of fishing lures and products for our customer’s specifications. Our family of brands includes BaitFuel, NetBait, Halo Fishing, Snag Proof, Scum Frog, Freedom Tackle, and STH Bait Co.

Our passion for fishing runs deep at American Baitworks Co. where our focus on innovation and advancing the sport of fishing never ends.

From our manufacturing and distribution center on the coast of Mississippi, USA, we want anglers of every level to have the best experience every time they’re on the water.

See BaitFuel Fish Attractant at work on our Facebook Page: American Baitworks

by AnglersChannel

Texas A&M-Commerce Wins MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament on Sam Rayburn Reservoir

BROOKELAND, Texas (March 14, 2022) – The Texas A&M-Commerce duo of Gus McLarry of Caddo Mills, Texas, and Jared West of Royse City, Texas, won the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Sam Rayburn Reservoir Friday with a five-bass limit weighing 28 pounds, 9 ounces. The victory earned the Lions’ bass club $2,000 and a slot in the 2023 MLF College Fishing National Championship.

“I would say we had most of our weight - probably 23 pounds - in the first 20 minutes,” McLarry said. “We made a 20-minute run up-lake and started off in a deeper channel swing cranking a Wild Shad-colored 6^th Sense Cloud 9 Series Crankbait. Then the bite just died off. So, at noon we decided to go around and scan some offshore timber.”

The team targeted bass with a 6^th Sense Provoke 106 Sinking Jerkbait and culled up with bigger bass twice with that approach. McLarry said they also caught a number of fish on a Carolina rig, but none of those fish added to their final weight. McLarry added that they caught 25 keepers during the course of the day and that their biggest bass of the day, an 8½-pounder, fell for the C25 crankbait.

“We’ve worked really hard to win a college tournament,” McLarry said. “This is my third year and Jared’s first. I’ve been on Rayburn a few times, and it’s always kicked my butt, so it felt really good to come out here and get a win on a lake that’s kicked my butt so many times.”

The top 10 teams that advanced to the 2023 College Fishing National Championship are:

1st: Texas A&M-Commerce – Gus McLarry, Caddo Mills, Texas, and Jared West, Royse City, Texas, five bass, 28-9, $2,000
2nd: Sam Houston State – Blake Castleberry and Garrett Moss, both of Huntsville, Texas, five bass, 28-6, $1,000
3rd: Stephen F. Austin State University – Nolan Yeager, Lucas, Texas, five bass, 27-4, $500
4^th: Louisiana Tech University – Kent Berry, Calhoun, La., and Will Lambert, West Monroe, La., five bass, 27-2, $500
5^th: University of Wisconsin-Platteville – Nathan Lee, Eau Claire, Wis., and Nathan Meyers, Freeport, Ill., five bass, 27-0, $500
6^th: University of North Carolina at Charlotte – Samuel Dunson, Chapel Hill, N.C., and Jake Monti, Mooresville, N.C., five bass, 25-14
7^th: Stephen F. Austin State University – J.D. Clarke, Chester, Texas, and Hunter Muncrief, Pineland, Texas, five bass, 25-14
8th: Stephen F. Austin State University – Cal Cameron, Coppell, Texas, and Ryan Pero, Allen, Texas, five bass, 24-13
9th: East Texas Baptist University – Brent Jolley, Kingwood, Texas, and Cade Nettles, Stonewall, La., five bass, 23-8
10th: Stephen F. Austin State University – Jacob Miller, Fort Worth, Texas, and Jack York, Nacogdoches, Texas, five bass, 22-12

MLF also advances one additional team to the National Championship for every 10 teams over 100 that compete. A total of 152 teams participated in this event, so also advancing to the 2023 College Fishing National Championship are:

11th: University of Central Florida – Jonathan Waters, Orlando, Fla., and Marshall Wiggins, Eustis, Fla., five bass, 20-7
12th: Louisiana State University Shreveport – Brayden Nichols, Blanchard, La, and William Tew, Bossier City, La., five bass, 20-0
13th: University of Oklahoma – Sam Dover and Cade Shropshire, both of Norman, Okla., five bass, 19-14
14th: Northeastern State University-Tahlequah – Grayson Hudson, Keifer, Okla., and Matthew Huffman, Park Hill, Okla., three bass, 19-11
15th: Grand Valley State University – Eric Hanover, Linwood, Mich., and Zachary McNary, Crown Point, Ind., five bass, 19-9

Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Sam Rayburn Reservoir was hosted by the Jasper County Development District. It was the second of three regular-season tournaments for Southern Conference anglers. The next event for College Fishing anglers will be the 2022 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship Presented by Lowrance, March 29-31, at Fort Gibson Lake in Wagoner, Oklahoma.

MLF College Fishing teams compete in three regular-season tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top 10 teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual Abu Garcia College Fishing Open will advance to the following season’s National Championship. The 2022 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship Presented by Lowrance will be held on Fort Gibson Lake in Wagoner, Oklahoma, March 29-31, and is hosted by the Wagoner Area Chamber of Commerce.

For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular College Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Odom Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Ross Barnett Reservoir

Brandon’s Stewart Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

BRANDON, Miss. (March 14, 2022) – Boater Taylor Odom of Flowood, Mississippi, caught five bass Saturday weighing 17 pounds, 7 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Ross Barnett Reservoir . The tournament was the second of the season for the Bass Fishing League Mississippi Division. Odom earned $5,403 for his victory.

“I found a really good group of fish during practice that I wanted to target,” Odom said. “Another boater that I know, Allen Shoemaker, had found the same group of fish, and we talked about it and said we would both go back to that group of fish and just work it out and both fish the same group.

“I ended up being randomly paired with Allen in a boater-boater draw,” Odom continued. “What a crazy scenario that turned out to be.”

Odom said the bass he targeted were “hunkered down”, so he went with a common approach for Ross Barnett – dragging a black 8-inch Zoom “Magnum” Lizard in about 3 feet of water.

Odom said he had experienced engine malfunctions during practice and was concerned his boat’s performance would affect his tournament. The boat held up for Odom’s win and Shoemaker finished 14^th.

“All I can say is God is good,” Odom said. “I wasn’t even sure that I was going to get to fish Saturday morning because of my boat.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

                  1st:          Taylor Odom, Flowood, Miss., five bass, 17-7, $5,403
2nd:        Joel Barber, Brandon, Miss., five bass, 16-9, $1,859
3rd:        Corey Sullivan, Brandon, Miss., five bass, 14-13, $1,238
4th:         Blake Daugherty, Pope, Miss., five bass, 13-4, $867
5th:         Teddy Cranford, Collins, Miss., five bass, 12-14, $744
6th:         Timmy Ming, Louisville, Miss., five bass, 12-5, $682
7th:         Noel Allen Jr., Brandon, Miss., five bass, 11-4, $620
8th:         Red Ballard, Sulphur, La., five bass, 11-3, $1,058 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
9th:         Will Dupler, Columbus, Miss., four bass, 10-2, $496
10th:      John Coggins, Guntown, Miss., four bass, 9-15, $434

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Odom had an 8-pound, 4-ounce largemouth that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division and earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $485.

Larry Stewart Jr. of Brandon, Mississippi, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,116 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 12 pounds, 6 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

1st:          Larry Stewart Jr., Brandon, Miss., five bass, 12-6, $2,116
2nd:        Michael Morris, Sumrall, Miss., three bass, 8-4, $908
3rd:        Blake Koenigsberger, Columbus, Miss., three bass, 6-9, $606
4th:         David Huey, Tupelo, Miss., two bass, 6-4, $424
5th:         Sank Payton, Bay Springs, Miss., three bass, 6-0, $363
6th:         Brandon Bell, Starkville, Miss., three bass, 5-13, $333
7th:         Quentin Bremenkamp, Brandon, Miss., one bass, 5-8, $535
8th:         Vernon Hearn, Lena, Miss., one bass, 5-1, $272
9th:         Daniel Corkern, Florence, Miss., two bass, 4-15, $392
10th:      Chris Brown, Fulton, Miss., one bass, 4-8, $212

Bremenkamp caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 8 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $232.

by AnglersChannel

Haynes And Thomas Follow Herring For Bassmaster High School Series Win On Smith Lake

Will Haynes and Austin Thomas of Curry High School have won the Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Series at Lewis Smith Lake presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors with a total of 13 pounds, 8 ounces.

Photo by Emily Hand/B.A.S.S.

March 13, 2022

CULLMAN, Ala. — When Will Haynes and Austin Thomas found the food, they found enough bass to catch a 13-pound, 8-ounce limit that delivered a narrow victory at the Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Series at Lewis Smith Lake presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.

Spending their day in the mid-lake region, Haynes and Thomas, both Curry High School seniors, edged Benjamin Travis and Andrew Kunz of Spain Park High School by 8 ounces.

“We got a bite in 30 to 40 feet and we were fishing in ditches for fish suspended under blueback herring,” Thomas said. “We found the key areas in practice, but we just didn’t know that amount of fish was there until today.

“We caught two right off the bat and then it was kind of slow until about 11 o’clock. We finally got it keyed in and that’s when we got our keeper bites.”

The winners caught their bass on Reaction Innovations Little Dipper swimbaits fished on 8-pound fluorocarbon. Haynes said the smoke gray color best matched the natural forage.

“We used the Garmin LiveScope a pretty good bit today,” Haynes said. “We would find them suspended and throw about 5 to 10 yards past them and bring it right in front of their face and they would just kill it.

“We had to throw at some of them more than once, but eventually, we got them to bite.”

Haynes said he and his partner caught seven of the nine fish that bit. They had their limit by noon and amassed their winning total, which included a 3-6, by 2 p.m.

“We rotated between two to three main areas,” Thomas said. “One spot ended up being more productive. It was a high spot in a ditch with brush on top. The herring would suspend over the brush and that’s where we caught our fish.”

Haynes said that, while he and Thomas tried multiple techniques in practice, they realized the fish were not biting larger baits. They entered the tournament knowing smaller presentations on light line would be their best option.

Joe Vaulton and Walker LaRue of Alcoa High School finished third with 11-15.

Tanner Mason and Landon Sims of DAR High School won the Big Bass award for their 4-5.

2022 Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Series at Lewis Smith Lake presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors 3/13-3/13
Lewis Smith Lake, Cullman AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

Angler Club/School Pts

1. Will Haynes - Austin Thomas Curry High School 0
Day 1: 5 13-08 Total: 5 13-08
2. Benjamin Travis - Andrew Kunz Spain Park 0
Day 1: 5 13-00 Total: 5 13-00
3. Joe Vaulton - Walker LaRue Alcoa High School (644) 0
Day 1: 5 11-15 Total: 5 11-15
4. Jordan Guest - Landon Guest Skyline High School 0
Day 1: 5 11-00 Total: 5 11-00
5. Brady Vest - Connor Ward Cullman High School 0
Day 1: 4 11-00 Total: 4 11-00
6. Brady Whitworth - Hunter Becke Faith Christian 0
Day 1: 5 10-14 Total: 5 10-14
7. Cooper Johnson - Beau England West Morgan Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 4 10-05 Total: 4 10-05
8. Braxton Hopper - Jake Woodward Chelsea Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 10-03 Total: 5 10-03
9. Nathan Reynolds - Westin Moss Backwoods Bassin 0
Day 1: 5 10-00 Total: 5 10-00
10. J Braden McNamara - Nathan Fiant Hartley's Hawgs 0
Day 1: 5 09-15 Total: 5 09-15
11. Bre Arnold - Connor Clark Good Hope Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 5 09-14 Total: 5 09-14
11. Hunter Travis - Jameson Norris Baldwin County High (396) 0
Day 1: 5 09-14 Total: 5 09-14
11. Peter West - Zach Knight Gallatin High School 0
Day 1: 5 09-14 Total: 5 09-14
14. Logan Gibson - Caleb Martinez Falcon Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 09-13 Total: 5 09-13
15. Jack Mcillwain - Dyson Weaver Creekwood High School 0
Day 1: 5 09-12 Total: 5 09-12
16. Mason Snider - Dalton Benson Mount Juliet Fishing 0
Day 1: 4 09-12 Total: 4 09-12
17. Miles Allen - Nick Biller St. Xavier High School 0
Day 1: 5 09-11 Total: 5 09-11
17. Miles Smith - Casen Rogers Central Lafourche High School 0
Day 1: 5 09-11 Total: 5 09-11
19. Carter Nutt - John Nutt Sale Creek 0
Day 1: 5 09-07 Total: 5 09-07
20. Parker Batts - Brody Jones Jefferson County Patriot Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 08-15 Total: 5 08-15
21. Landon Myers - Jacob Teffeteller Alcoa Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 5 08-14 Total: 5 08-14
22. AJ McGee - Evan Dunn Bibb County 0
Day 1: 5 08-13 Total: 5 08-13
23. Dylan Ingram - Jacob Bailey Auburn Anglers 0
Day 1: 4 08-12 Total: 4 08-12
24. Cody Brooks - Fisher Anaya Brewer High School 0
Day 1: 5 08-09 Total: 5 08-09
25. Levi Harris - Zane Roberts Fairview High School 0
Day 1: 4 08-07 Total: 4 08-07
26. Connor Mclaughlin - Barclay Butler Scottsboro High School BassCats 0
Day 1: 4 07-14 Total: 4 07-14
27. Wayland Adkisson - Clay George BGA High School 0
Day 1: 4 07-11 Total: 4 07-11
28. Houston Snell - Logan Kirkland Rehobeth High School 0
Day 1: 4 07-06 Total: 4 07-06
29. Joshua Roberts - Carter Green Valley Bass team 0
Day 1: 3 07-06 Total: 3 07-06
30. TJ Cox - Dalton Cochran Brookwood High School 0
Day 1: 4 07-04 Total: 4 07-04
30. Tucker McCoy - Ethan Hopkins Mortimer Jordan Bass Club 0
Day 1: 4 07-04 Total: 4 07-04
32. Max Himmel - Tyler Morris Catholic High School of Baton Ro 0
Day 1: 4 07-03 Total: 4 07-03
33. Nick Seitz - Brock Vogel 419 Fishing 0
Day 1: 3 07-03 Total: 3 07-03
34. Cole Reid - Jordan Thomas Hayden Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 4 07-02 Total: 4 07-02
34. Ethan Tedder - Eli Saint Muscle Shoals High School 0
Day 1: 4 07-02 Total: 4 07-02
36. Elijah Lawler - Landon Reed New Hope High School 0
Day 1: 3 07-02 Total: 3 07-02
37. Ryder Rousseau - Rockwell Petersen White Bear Lake 0
Day 1: 3 07-01 Total: 3 07-01
38. Walker Whitworth - Brodie Dodson 0
Day 1: 3 06-15 Total: 3 06-15
39. Jace Griffin - Ty Clark Curry High School 0
Day 1: 4 06-12 Total: 4 06-12
40. James Sumrell - Soddy Daisy 0
Day 1: 3 06-12 Total: 3 06-12
41. Luke Bell - Robert Stanley Escambia Academy 0
Day 1: 4 06-10 Total: 4 06-10
42. Chase Fluty - JL Simmons Sumner County Bass Team 0
Day 1: 3 06-08 Total: 3 06-08
43. Andon Goins - Daniel Moon Rhea County High School 0
Day 1: 4 06-07 Total: 4 06-07
44. Grant West - Lydia West Scottsboro High School BassCats 0
Day 1: 3 06-05 Total: 3 06-05
44. Logan Withrow - Braden Crumley Chilhowee Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 3 06-05 Total: 3 06-05
46. Braxton Strickland - William Olaire Gardendale High School 0
Day 1: 3 06-04 Total: 3 06-04
47. Jacob Hodge - Henry Garett Greenbrier Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 3 06-02 Total: 3 06-02
48. Jackie Hatfield - Graham Willis Alcoa Fishing Team (244) 0
Day 1: 4 06-00 Total: 4 06-00
49. Brantley Barrentine - Bode Smith Pisgah Anglers 0
Day 1: 2 05-10 Total: 2 05-10
50. Jack Fitzgerald - Landen Manning MT. PLEASANT BASS TEAM 0
Day 1: 3 05-09 Total: 3 05-09
51. Peyton Deloney - Robert Turner Rehobeth 0
Day 1: 3 05-07 Total: 3 05-07
52. Spencer Cothran - Keaton Owens Chapman pathers 0
Day 1: 3 05-06 Total: 3 05-06
53. Blane Holcombe - Gibson Huntley Chapman High School 0
Day 1: 2 05-05 Total: 2 05-05
53. Trey Woliver - Hayden Poe Heritage High School 0
Day 1: 2 05-05 Total: 2 05-05
55. Jamison Drake - Alex Girodo East Limestone High School 0
Day 1: 3 05-03 Total: 3 05-03
56. Cole Kelley - Luke Sparkman Jasper High School 0
Day 1: 3 05-01 Total: 3 05-01
57. Landen Scruggs - Joseph Wilson Chapman panthers (548) 0
Day 1: 2 05-01 Total: 2 05-01
58. Rein Golub - Matthew Pitcher Pittsford High School 0
Day 1: 3 05-00 Total: 3 05-00
59. Parker Ramsey - Luke Hoesley Hoover High School 0
Day 1: 3 04-14 Total: 3 04-14
60. Fischer Barber - Wells Johnson Heritage Christian Academy 0
Day 1: 3 04-12 Total: 3 04-12
61. Fisher Sickafoose - Austin Tolbert Corner Community Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 3 04-11 Total: 3 04-11
62. Avery Shoemaker - Samuel Shoemaker Buford High School 0
Day 1: 2 04-10 Total: 2 04-10
63. Dalton Johnson - Bradley Sims Mary G Montgomery 0
Day 1: 3 04-06 Total: 3 04-06
64. Mason Hill - Ben Shinkunas Athens High School 0
Day 1: 2 04-06 Total: 2 04-06
65. Tanner Mason - Landon Sims Dar High School 0
Day 1: 1 04-05 Total: 1 04-05
66. James Lamberth - Taylor Williams Alabama Christian Academy 0
Day 1: 2 04-03 Total: 2 04-03
67. Eli Galloway - Mylan Tuberville Baldwin county 0
Day 1: 2 04-03 Total: 2 04-03
67. Grant Maples - Blake Pence New Hope High School 0
Day 1: 2 04-03 Total: 2 04-03
69. Easton Drennon - Aaron Lane Mt. Juliet Fishing 0
Day 1: 2 04-01 Total: 2 04-01
70. Brody Mitchell - Adyn Middlebrooks Grissom Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 2 03-12 Total: 2 03-12
71. Carter Bechet - Gavin Ring Mount Pleasant (257) 0
Day 1: 2 03-09 Total: 2 03-09
71. Talan Leith - Bryson Glover Chapman High School 0
Day 1: 2 03-09 Total: 2 03-09
71. Riley North - Karson Peterman Rehobeth High School 0
Day 1: 2 03-09 Total: 2 03-09
74. Alexander Costanza - Conner Cordle Alabama Christian Academy 0
Day 1: 2 03-07 Total: 2 03-07
75. Emory Olinger - Banks Shaw Bledsoe County High School 0
Day 1: 3 03-06 Total: 3 03-06
76. Jake Carney - Knox Whalen Soddy Daisy High School 0
Day 1: 2 03-06 Total: 2 03-06
76. Easton Morris - Hunter Thrash Jemison High School 0
Day 1: 2 03-06 Total: 2 03-06
76. John Tyler Prather - Douglas Pate Carbon Hill High School 0
Day 1: 2 03-06 Total: 2 03-06
76. Thomas Stewart - Jackson Reed Scottsboro High School BassCats 0
Day 1: 2 03-06 Total: 2 03-06
80. Hayden Short - Archer Smith Burgin Independent 0
Day 1: 2 03-05 Total: 2 03-05
81. Brady Raines - Chase McConnell Mt. Juliet High School Fishing 0
Day 1: 2 03-04 Total: 2 03-04
82. Brody Hopper - Bryce Hopper Cullman High School 0
Day 1: 2 03-03 Total: 2 03-03
83. Cooper Lively - Cole Green Gardendale High School 0
Day 1: 2 03-02 Total: 2 03-02
84. Austin Benson - Brendan Brown Mount Juliet 0
Day 1: 2 03-01 Total: 2 03-01
85. Josh Burns - Cody Burns Mortimer Jordan 0
Day 1: 1 03-01 Total: 1 03-01
86. Andrew Blanton - Landon Scruggs Chesnee High school 0
Day 1: 2 02-15 Total: 2 02-15
87. Brandon Berry - Hunter Bright Helena High School 0
Day 1: 1 02-08 Total: 1 02-08
87. Connor Green - Harley Gosdin Valley High School 0
Day 1: 1 02-08 Total: 1 02-08
89. Lainie Holbert - Sarah Swindle Riverside Bass Team 0
Day 1: 1 02-07 Total: 1 02-07
89. Seth Loggins - Briley Mattox Good Hope Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 1 02-07 Total: 1 02-07
89. Adrian Stewart - Elijah Page Good Hope Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 1 02-07 Total: 1 02-07
89. Braylan Tyler - Michael Brewer Jr Franklin County High School 0
Day 1: 1 02-07 Total: 1 02-07
93. Slade Beasley - Lucas Jackson Mortimer Jordan 0
Day 1: 1 02-06 Total: 1 02-06
94. Hunter Orman - Eli Jones Muscle Shoals 0
Day 1: 1 02-05 Total: 1 02-05
95. Cole Edwards - Seth Stubblefield DAR High School 0
Day 1: 1 02-04 Total: 1 02-04
95. Jordan Houston - Luke Hurst Mortimer Jordan 0
Day 1: 1 02-04 Total: 1 02-04
95. William Miller - Vann Mefford New Hope High School 0
Day 1: 1 02-04 Total: 1 02-04
98. Kaden Randles - Landon Black DAR 0
Day 1: 1 02-03 Total: 1 02-03
99. Drew Bradstreet - Kamden Bradstreet Seminole Junior Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 02-02 Total: 1 02-02
99. Lacy Woods Kee - Trinity Kee West Point High School 0
Day 1: 1 02-02 Total: 1 02-02
99. Will Travis - Colton Teffer Rhea County High 0
Day 1: 1 02-02 Total: 1 02-02
102. Chase Bryan - Wyatt Bryan Saraland High School 0
Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01
102. Jackson Mitchell - Ethan England Hueytown Student Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01
104. Kai Barnett - Eason Carlisle Shelby County High School 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Total: 1 02-00
105. Langston Martin - Coleman Mezick Lee County Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 01-15 Total: 1 01-15
105. Garrett Sharp - Landon Story East Limestone High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-15 Total: 1 01-15
107. Colt Canterberry - Abram Whitehead Hayden High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Total: 1 01-14
107. Brice Davis - Garrett Angotti Cooter High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Total: 1 01-14
107. Carson Holbert - Landon Dial William Blount (506) 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Total: 1 01-14
107. Drake Middleton - Avery Johnson Riverside high school 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Total: 1 01-14
111. Noah Carruth - Matthew Mcgregor West Morgan Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Total: 1 01-12
111. Ethen Gardner - Hayes Boyd Alabama Christian Academy 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Total: 1 01-12
111. Benjamin Hester - Mason Caldwell Rhea County High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Total: 1 01-12
111. Trayton Overton - Garrett Mcconnell Mortimer Jordan Bass Club 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Total: 1 01-12
111. Gavin Schmitz - Addison Sikes Saraland High School Fishing Tea 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Total: 1 01-12
116. Mason Mcgregor - Logan Maples West Morgan Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 1 01-11 Total: 1 01-11
116. Laindree Richardson - Gannon Stork Benton High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-11 Total: 1 01-11
116. Bracyn Sullivan - Zachary Hudgens Scotts Hill High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-11 Total: 1 01-11
119. Reece Knight - Hunter Baldwin Albertville High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-10 Total: 1 01-10
119. Jaden Purkey - Tanner Herndon Jefferson County High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-10 Total: 1 01-10
119. JD Stack - Elijah Blankenship Scotts Hill 0
Day 1: 1 01-10 Total: 1 01-10
122. Briar Dodson - Chris Fallon Gardendale High 0
Day 1: 1 01-09 Total: 1 01-09
122. William Hoskins - Joshua Vanderpool Wilson Christian Academy 0
Day 1: 1 01-09 Total: 1 01-09
124. Cason Mcnutt - Mason Melton Mt Juliet High School 0
Day 1: 2 01-08 Total: 2 01-08
125. Reece Keeney - Bryce Moder Northeast Wisconsin Bass 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Total: 1 01-08
126. Asher Peters - James Quinlivan Headland High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-07 Total: 1 01-07
127. Josh Foshee - Lance Roberts Mortimer Jordan 0
Day 1: 1 01-06 Total: 1 01-06
128. Corbin Hall - Nathan Whitehead Muscle Shoals 0
Day 1: 1 01-05 Total: 1 01-05
129. Braden Watson - Logan Deloney Rehobeth High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-03 Total: 1 01-03
130. DJ Arias Jr. - Brody Shepherd Rehobeth High School 0
Day 1: 1 00-00 Total: 1 00-00
130. Tucker Beck - Jaret Tidwell Curry High 0
Day 1: 1 00-00 Total: 1 00-00
130. Kristian King - Eli Sanders Skyline High School 0
Day 1: 1 00-00 Total: 1 00-00
133. Buckner Anderson - Greyson Widgeon Scottsboro High School BassCats 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Brayden Bastien - Ethan Layhew New Hope High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Isaac Bauer - Cason Ewing Cullman High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Jacob Baugh - Scott York Skyline High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Nicholas Boggs - Brady Howard Louisa Bass Club High School Fis 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Tristen Boyd - Dylan Meeks Grundy County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Christian Bradford - Hunter Cales FCHS 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Chance Bryars - Noah Bryars Baldwin County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Riley Carver - Mason Chappell Corner Community Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Kaden Casey - Collin French Montgomery County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Tucker Cook - Cooper Wilson Mount Juliet 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Kaden Cornelius - Noah Drake Good Hope Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. William Cothran - Taedem Ashworth Mt. Pleasant High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Derek Davis - Connor Jaco Mt.Pleasant Bass Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Griffin Davison - Carson Wilson Escambia Academy Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Carson Debord - Daniel Rogers Sequatchie County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Austin Denmark - Colton Odom Citronelle Community Fishing Tea 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Bryant Erwin - Ridge Pritchett New Hope High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Hayes Finch - Matthew Jenkins Alabama Christian Academy 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Matthew Franks - Kaleb Arnold New Hope High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Emma Gellness - Cloe Waters cold springs fishing team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Alex Gore - Kobi May Jefferson County 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Landon Grider - Kolby Clark Scottsboro High School BassCats 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Alex Hall - Evan Thompson Muscle Shoals 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Bryson Hatcher - Harlyn Nelson Wb 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Griffin Hunter - Nicolas Thompson Muscle Shoals 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Charly Hutson - Chloe Wisniewski Henry county high school 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Kade Jennings - Logan Weeks Hayden High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Annie Lassiter - Telisha Torres warren county pioneer anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Eli Ledbetter - Colllin Ledbetter junior southwest bassmasters den 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Ivie Lemley - Tyler Dunn New Hope High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Hayden Marshall - Jackson Boone Gardendale High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Brady Mccamy - Jacob Gipson Albertville High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Connor Montgomery - Kaleb Bagala Corner Community Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Destin Morales - Samuel Cobb Jr Livingston Parish High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Ridge Mullis - Hayden Cook Hillcrest High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Eli Newberry - Judd Linette Daviess County BASS 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Palmer Norris - Lucas Jones Scottsboro High School BassCats 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Canyon Odom - Christopher Johnson Baldwin County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Daniel Olinger - Bryant Kennamer Skyline High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Avery Padgett - Ethan Young Zion Chapel 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Jace Patton - Spencer White Rhea Eagle Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Carter Pjesky - JD McBroom Kaneland High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Zach Pocos - Brett Hill Hartleys Hawgs Bass Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Cayden Redd - Chase Woodham Rehobeth High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Camden Rogers - Michael Strickland Mary G Montgomery 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Zachary Rooker - Dylan Smith cold springs fishing team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Gabriel Sanders - Chilhowee Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Trevor Sanford - Greer Gammon Mount Juliet Fishing 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Brendin Simich - Ben Ivey Oak Mountain High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Emma Simon - Victoria Lemmler Central High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Austin Smith - Christopher Dowdy New Hope High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Hunter Spry - Garrett Journell Mt. Juliet Fishing 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. C.J. Stanley - Colton Parten Rhea County Eagle Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Joshua Stokes - Ryan Smith Mortimer Jordan Bass Club 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Talon Stone - Hayden Jennette Benton County Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Levi Thibodaux - Jace Andras Lafourche Bassmaster 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Alex Townsend - Drew Hardin Benton county 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Kayden Waller - Luke Malik Mt. Juliet high school 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Cameron Whitehead - Austin Kelly Rehobeth High School Bass Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Garrett Wilson - Garett Cron Holy Spirit Tuscaloosa 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Matthew Wilson - Grady Mcclendon Holy Spirit Tuscaloosa (293) 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
133. Hayden Winn - Zeb Lambert Cullman High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
196. Grant Laney - Trey Trotter Fairview High School 0
Day 1: 0 -01-00 Total: 0 -1-00
196. Reed Potter - Holland Griggs Scottsboro High School BassCats 0
Day 1: 0 -01-00 Total: 0 -1-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURN
Tanner Mason-Landon Sims Grant, AL 04-05 $0.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 20 333 649-02
----------------------------------
20 333 649-02

by AnglersChannel

Grant Galloway Grabs Early Lead at MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Bass Boat Technologies Stop 2 on the Harris Chain of Lakes

Former Mississippi State Collegiate Fishing Standout Catches Five Bass Weighing 23-9 To Lead on Day 1 of Four-Day Event

LEESBURG, Fla. (March 13, 2022) – After practicing earlier this week in 70- and 80-degree temperatures, MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit anglers were greeted by chilly 30-degree temperatures Sunday morning on Day 1 of the Bass Boat Technologies Stop 2 at the Harris Chain of Lakes Presented by Frogg Toggs. Despite the cold temperatures early, the afternoon warmed up and the big bass were still chewing. Pro Grant Galloway of Houlka, Mississippi , weighed a five-bass limit totaling 23 pounds, 9 ounces to grab the early lead after Day 1, while Florida guru “The Honey Badger” Randall Tharp of Port Saint Joe, Florida, looms large right behind Galloway in second place, just 10 ounces back with a five-bass limit weighing 22-15.

Link to Photo of Day 1 Leader Josh Butler

The four-day event, hosted by Visit Lake County, features a roster of 157 of the world’s best bass-fishing professionals competing for a top award of up to $135,000. The tournament marks the second of six regular-season Pro Circuit events in 2022 and offers competitors a total purse of more than $850,000.

"Welcoming the Major League Fishing Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit is a pleasure," Lake County Commissioner and Tourist Development Council Chairman Doug Shields said. "Our Harris Chain of Lakes are perfect for travelers looking to fish on a competitive level while our surrounding areas provide wonderful accommodations and entertainment."

Sunday was a great day for Galloway, a former College Fishing angler from Mississippi State University. The sophomore pro caught two giants early – an 8- and a 9-pounder.

“First thing this morning I got to the area I was fishing and it was really windy,” Galloway said. “I had one windblown point that I liked, so I bombed a big stickbait up there and she bit, then wrapped me up in the vines and pads. I hightailed it to her and reached down and grabbed her and got her in the boat.

“I was in shock,” Galloway continued. “After I had passed out and come back twice, I worked down the bank and I saw another blowed-in trashmat. That’s what I call it – just a mix of eelgrass and hydrilla. I pitched to it and felt a thump – I set the hook and just pinned it. I again hightailed over to it, and I could only see her lip sticking through the mat. I just put my hand in and pulled it out, not having a clue how big it was. Once I saw it, I was like, ‘oh my.’ I had two for 17. And those were my first two fish of the day.”
After boating his two giants, Galloway spent the rest of the day combing though keepers to fill out his limit.

“I had a little jerkbait and caught a limit pretty quick, but I felt like I was just burning through fish,” Galloway said. “So I went out on a flat and threw a crankbait in the grass – I caught probably another 15 fish on the crankbait – and culled three or four times, but just ounces.

“The wind made things really tough,” Galloway said. “I wasn’t able to fish thorough – I had a couple of stretches that I intentionally wanted to fish very slow – pitching, flipping and picking them apart. But the wind was so bad I couldn’t do anything, so hopefully tomorrow I can capitalize on some of those areas.

“Today was just a blessing,” Galloway went on to say. “I fished clean, and I was fortunate and blessed to get those two big Florida bites, and that’s what you need here if you’re going to compete. I’m excited to see how it shakes out tomorrow.”

The top 20 pros after Day 1 on the Harris Chain of Lakes are:

1^st:          Grant Galloway, Houlka, Miss., five bass, 23-9
2^nd:         Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla., five bass, 22-15
3^rd:         Kerry Milner, Fisher, Ark., five bass, 22-13
4^th:         Corey Neece, Bristol, Tenn., five bass, 21-1
5^th:         Chase Serafin, White Lake, Mich., five bass, 20-0
6^th:         Andrew Loberg, Rocklin, Calif., five bass, 19-9
7^th:         Cole Hewett, Orange Park, Fla., five bass, 19-6
8^th:         Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., five bass, 18-15
9^th:         Jason Reyes, Huffman, Texas, five bass, 18-7
10^th:       Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., five bass, 18-5
11^th:       Kurt Mitchell, Milford, Del., five bass, 18-4
12^th:       Clark Reehm, Elm Grove, La., five bass, 18-2
13^th:       Dicky Newberry, Houston, Texas, five bass, 17-11
14^th:       Bill McDonald, Greenwood, Ind., five bass, 17-9
15^th:       Colby Miller, Elmer, La., five bass, 17-5
16^th:       Matt Becker, Finleyville, Pa., five bass, 17-2
17^th:       Aaron Britt, Yuba City, Calif., five bass, 17-1
18^th:       Tom Monsoor, La Crosse, Wis., five bass, 16-13
18^th:       Tommy Dickerson, Orange, Texas, five bass, 16-13
20^th:       Jacopo Gallelli, Florence, Italy, five bass, 16-8

A full list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Tharp weighed in Sunday’s Berkley Big Bass – a largemouth that totaled 9 pounds, 7 ounces – to win the $1,000 bonus.

Overall, there were 748 bass weighing 1,928 pounds, 10 ounces caught by 157 pros Sunday. The catch included 139 five-bass limits.

In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of 157 anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Sunday and Monday. The top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight will advance to Tuesday. Only the top 10 pros, based on cumulative weight from the first three days, will continue competition on Championship Wednesday, where weights will be zeroed and anglers will compete in a one-day shootout for the grand prize of up to $135,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers.

Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.

by AnglersChannel

Damien Wills and Tyler Kiker with 15.42 to win Frigid ABT on Lewis Smith Lake

By Jason Duran

Gadsden, Ala— March 13, The Alabama Bass Trail North Division faced the conditions and completed another successful event at Lewis Smith Lake. Teams prepared throughout the week ahead of the event with springtime weather conditions and temps in the 70s. However, on tournament day, the conditions drastically changed back to winter conditions with temps in the low 30s and winds at 15 mph and snowfall. ABT anglers are some of the best in the country, and the weights prove they can catch them no matter the conditions.

The first-place team of Damien Wills and Tyler Kiker weighed in 15.42 pounds. They spent Thursday and Friday practicing expecting the conditions to change as predicated. During practice, they felt the fish were moving up shallow due to the warmer weather and warming water. Expecting the change to push the fish out deeper, they spent most of Friday locating areas of deeper water where they should go when the conditions changed. They were able to catch some big fish in practice out deep and hoped more would move out there. On tournament day it was really a tough start. The air temps were very cold. “We started our morning targeting fish in deeper areas we found in practice. Spending most of the morning trying to locate the fish out deep only produced two small fish, and we were just about ready to go home. We decided to abandon this plan and make a change at 11:00.” The decision was to use a “Rapala DT10 Crank bait in crawfish color and run the stuff that looks good, so we picked out what we liked best and went to fishing.” The wind was strong, so they used that to their advantage. Smith Lake is a deep clear water lake, and when the wind blows, it often makes the fishing better. “We fished areas that were some of the windiest spots on the lake and had these all to ourselves because most teams were trying to get out of the wind. The wind was key in positioning the fish just right. The DT10 crankbait is easy to throw in the wind, so it was also a big factor to catching these fish because we could make the cast in the wind. We caught 20-25 fish running this pattern and culled up to the 15.42 pounds and collected $10,000 first place prize plus bonuses from Phoenix Boats, Wedowee Marine, and Garmin making the total pay day $18,000.”

Gregory Lamb and David Powell who took second place with 14.87 pounds shared, “we had a pretty good practice and found an area early Wednesday that had some good largemouth in it, so we left it alone. This morning when we pulled in there, the wind had beat it to death, pushing the fish on the bank. We probably didn’t catch a fish over three feet deep. We are shallow water fishermen. We caught fish on a finesse worm, a square bill and a chatter bait. The area we fished was a little shallow bank with a soft plateau on it. It was full of three- and four-pound largemouth. In practice we made one pass over it and decided this was where we were going to go. Despite the drastic change in air temperature, the water temps were still 57° today just like they were in practice. We were surprised at how well the area held up. We lost a couple of fish that probably could have moved us up, but that’s just how it goes.” They collected a nice $5,000 pay day.

The third-place team of Kelly White and Rich Welch weighed in 14.53 pounds bouncing back after zeroing their first event. They spent three days of practice preparing for this event and planned to start in the back of a creek in the Duncan Bridge area. When they arrived, someone was already fishing that spot, so they decided to scramble and find another area settling on a shallow point with brush and gravel. In this area they used a wacky-rig and shaky head and caught a bunch of 13–16-inch slot limit fish they had to release. They realized there were a lot of fish in the area though. “The colder weather seemed to make the spotted settle down in an area because earlier in the week when the temperatures were warmer, the fish were chasing bait and more spread out. This time of year, you want to be on a north facing shallow clay bank, and that’s exactly where we were today.” They used the forward facing sonar to their advantage and, later in the day, were able to “move off the point a little and see the fish to find there were more fish there than they realized.” They made a couple more moves throughout the day and were able to catch fish each time they moved. Today they mostly caught slot fish and probably caught 15-20 fish from Rock Creek to Duncan Bridge. They caught the biggest fish of the event at 5.67 pounds.

This event once again proved that ABT anglers can catch fish in the toughest conditions.

200 of 250 teams checked in to fish, and at the end of the day, 127 Teams had a five fish limit. 185 teams weighed in at least one fish. 40^th place had 10.81 pounds and was the last place to get a check of $500. This is one of the reasons why ABT teams are so successful at the next level because even when they face tough conditions, they still come out successful.

The Top 10 places are below for a complete list of standings visit:

https://www.alabamabasstrail.org/lewis-smith-lake/results/

Download and listen to the ABT Podcast on your favorite Podcast app by searching for “Alabama Bass Trail Podcast.” The podcast is released each week on Tuesday.

by AnglersChannel

Big Bass Tour - Berkley Lake Breakdown - LAKE NORMAN

Lake Norman Set For a Shootout

By Pete Robbins

Lake Norman is one of the toughest events regularly on the Big Bass Tour schedule, not because it’s tough fishing – on the contrary, competitors can expect to catch lots of largemouth and spotted bass – but rather because the weights tend to be so tight. We’ve weighed in one bass there over 7 pounds in the last seven events, back in April of 2019, and the winner is usually a 6-plus, with a trail of 5-pounders bringing up the top 10. You’re just as likely to have none over 6 pounds as you are to have two or three of them.

That leaves anglers with a competitive conundrum. If you catch a 4- or 5-pounder, do you weigh it in at a given hour. Even 3-pounders grab hourly checks. The big, developed lake in the Charlotte suburbs prevents great strategic questions.

Veteran Bassmaster pro Shane LeHew has plenty of experience on Norman, and thoughts about how to catch bigger-than-average bass there. The three-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier would look super-shallow for this upcoming three-day test of the best. While the weekend prior was marked by freezing temperatures and precipitation, there’s a warming trend heading into the tournament and it should be comfortable and warm every day.

“There is a full moon so I would probably be fishing some shallow docks and looking for one on the bed,” he explained. The best docks will likely be very shallow, with big black floats to hold warmth, and brush underneath definitely help. “Those big females stage on the shallowest docks.”

The good news for competitors is that they should be able to spread out. No single section of Norman has a stranglehold on the biggest largemouths. “It could be good up lake around the 150 area,” LeHew explained. “That’s probably a place for a big largemouth. Even midlake around Governor’s Island could be a layer. The water temperatures are in the upper fifties now. It’s still a little cold. People always say that 62 degrees is the magic number for them to spawn, but if you have the right conditions, like a full moon, they’ll want to get up there.”

He'd also consider making a long run up the river to try to get into the muddier water. There’s been a lot of rain lately, and that section of the lake tend to be colder than everywhere else. Tie of a vibrating jig and get to work. “It’s almost like three lakes in one,” he stated.

His primary tool around the docks would be a Berkley MaxScent General, although he wouldn’t hesitate to mix in a belly-weighted 5- or 6-inch Berkley Hollow Belly to tempt a true giant to grab an easy meal.

While a largemouth will almost certainly claim big bass honors and probably the entirety of the top ten, anglers looking for hourly checks could also focus on or spend some time chasing the lake’s prolific spotted bass. They might not frequently show up in the 4-pound-plus range, but there are plenty of threes that can put money in your pocket. He’d focus down lake with a Berkley Stunna jerkbait to fire them up. There may also still be a deep bite for spotted bass and his primary tool in that situation would be a 4-inch Berkley General on a Half Head Jig.

Anglers can expect to catch lots of bass anytime we visit Norman in the spring, but catching the right one will require a bit of luck, a bit of strategy, and close attention to the live leaderboard.

by AnglersChannel

MLF Bass Fishing League Piedmont Division Tournament on Kerr Lake Postponed Due to Severe Storms

WHAT:
The BFL Piedmont Division tournament on Kerr Lake, scheduled for Saturday, March 12, has been postponed due to severe storms and inclement weather. The event, hosted by Vance County Tourism, will be rescheduled at a later date to be determined.

NOTES:
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each Piedmont Division qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 6-8 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake Murray in Prosperity, South Carolina.

by AnglersChannel

Expect A Shallow-Water Beatdown In Bassmaster Elite Event On Santee Cooper Lakes

South Carolina will host the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes March 17-20, 2022.

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

March 10, 2022

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — As spring arrives in the Low Country of South Carolina, Elite Series anglers will likely have the opportunity to catch massive bags during the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes and prove why the fishery was ranked the third-best bass lake of 2021 by Bassmaster Magazine.

Competition days will be March 17-20, with anglers taking off each morning at 7:30 a.m. ET from John C. Land III Sport Fishing Facility in Summerton and weighing in back at the facility at 3:30 p.m.

Made up of Lake Marion to the west and Lake Moultrie to the east, Santee Cooper was not only ranked as the third-best bass fishing lake in the country in Bassmaster’s annual list of 100 Best Bass Lakes in 2021, but was also named the 23rd-best lake of the decade in 2020. The two reservoirs cover over 170,000 acres combined, plus a 6-mile diversion canal that connects the two.

The lakes hold the record for the third-heaviest four-day winning weight in Elite Series history (115 pounds, 15 ounces) set by Preston Clark in 2006. In only the second visit by the Elite Series to Santee Cooper in October 2020, an event originally scheduled for March but moved due to COVID-19, Brandon Palaniuk sealed his fifth career Elite Series victory by catching 72-2 on various parts of Lake Marion.

With thousands of cypress trees and several different types of bank grass, Santee Cooper is a diverse fishery that Elite Series champion Patrick Walters has called home his whole bass fishing life.

“There are so many different faces to this lake and so many different types of fishing you can do on Marion and Moultrie,” the Summerville, S.C., native said. “There’s bluffs, flats, cypress trees, flooded timber, grass, depressions. Anything you can imagine to fish, you can fish here and it is such a huge fishery and so diverse.

“With 170,000 acres, that is huge and I like that. The hard part about coming here is trying to break it down.”

As the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk at Lake Hartwell highlighted, temperatures across the Southeast have been on the rise and bass have been pushing toward the shallows. With a cold front moving through the weekend before official practice begins, followed by warming temperatures as high as 80 degrees predicted during the tournament, Walters said he expects this event to be a shallow-water beatdown with bass transitioning from prespawn to spawn.

With a week to go before the first takeoff, Walters said the lakes were about a foot low. But with rain pushing through the areas, it is expected to rise some, which he thinks will only help the fishing.

“The cold front will come through Saturday and Sunday with lows in the 20s. The fish, I think, are already up there shallow,” Walters said. “There is pollen on my truck and spring is in the air. The cold front will knock them back some and what I’m hoping is, with a full moon and temperatures back in the 80s, that the bass will have spring fever.

“It could line up for the perfect storm. A lot of the fish wait for the water level to get right before they spawn and if it rises even a half a foot, it is going to be scary.”

While the two lakes have some distinct differences, Walters said a lot of the same elements play on both lakes and either has the potential to kick out massive bags. He added, however, Moultrie is less likely to sustain its production over the course of a four-day event.

“Lake Moultrie looks like Okeechobee,” he said. “It is a complete circle and doesn’t have much timber in the middle of it. That lake was finished when they flooded it while Lake Marion was not. Marion is a more scenic lake and a lot harder to get around.

“Moultrie has more actual channels and Marion doesn’t have as many natural creeks and stuff. There is still the same kind of cover base, but it lays out a little differently.”

On either lake, the bass will be making a push toward spawning flats and creeks, giving anglers a multitude of options when it comes to shallow cover. Flipping and pitching around cypress trees and flooded cover will play a role as well as spinnerbaits.

The lake also features lily pads, gator grass, water willow and other bank grasses where anglers can pick up a key bite.

“Sight fishing is going to play a big factor,” Walters added.

No matter what the predominant pattern ends up being, Walters said he expects the four-day totals to creep up to or surpass the century mark.

“I think both lakes will play and I think it will be a good shallow-water tournament,” he explained. “It is going to be weird when we get there for practice. But come tournament time, it will open some eyes. I think it will take 90 to 100 pounds to win.”

With two Elite Series events completed, Tennessee native David Mullins holds a slim lead (193 points) in the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year race over Floridian John Cox (191 points), while Georgia’s Micah Frazier holds third place with 179 points.

Wisconsin native Jay Przekurat is leading the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 155 points.

Full coverage from all four days of the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes will be available on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will also broadcast live with the tournament leaders on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 19-20 beginning at 8 a.m. ET.

by AnglersChannel

Country Music Artist Clayton Anderson to Headline Free Concert Presented by Ugly Stik at REDCREST 2022 Outdoor Sports Expo in Tulsa

Anderson Will Perform at Major League Fishing’s REDCREST 2022 Presented by Costa – Pro Bass Fishing’s World Championship

TULSA, Okla. (March 10, 2022) – Country music star Clayton Anderson (Visionary Media Group ) will perform a free concert on the Mossy Oak Music stage at the SageNet Center at Expo Square in Tulsa on Sunday, March 27, beginning at 4 p.m. before the world’s premier bass anglers return from Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees to crown the REDCREST 2022 Champion – professional bass fishing’s world championship. Fans of all ages are encouraged to attend the free concert which is presented by Ugly Stik.

Anderson’s latest hit: “Show Me Your Fish” resonates with anglers of all ages and included mention of the iconic fishing brand Ugly Stik throughout the song. The summertime anthem, which had its World Premiere on Country Music Television (CMT) earlier this week, is sure to be heard blasting from boats and trucks across the country this year as he encourages fishermen and women of all ages to break out their Ugly Stiks and show off their best catch.

“I’m so pumped to be headlining REDCREST this year. Country music and fishin’, what goes together better than that,” said Anderson. “And it couldn’t be better timing with the release of ‘Show Me Your Fish’. As a little kid floating the East Fork of the White River, if you told me this would be happening, I’d never believed ya. Really looking forward to grabbing an Ugly Stik, getting out there and hanging with the pros, amateurs, and all the fishin’ fans. Gonna be a heckuva time.”

A country singer-songwriter with a midwestern rock flair, Anderson grew up on the lakes of Southern Indiana — fishing, boating, and playing his guitar. As a student at Indiana University, he kicked off his music career, building a grassroots fan following playing local bars and parties. In 2008, he walked onstage at Kenny Chesney’s Next Big Star Battle in Cincinnati and walked off as the winner. He released his debut album, Torn Jeans & Tailgates, in 2011, followed by Right Where I Belong (2014) and Only to Borrow (2016). Pre-COVID, he toured nonstop, opening for Eric Church, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Jimmy Buffett, Thomas Rhett, Lee Brice, and Carly Pearce.

During the pandemic, Anderson got creative, going virtual and diving back into his roots on the water with a lineup of Lake Tour concerts. To kick off 2022, Anderson released two brand new singles: “Nothin’ But Net” (produced by Grammy-winning Dave Audé and as heard on ESPN for College Basketball Season) and “Get After It” (produced by Nash Overstreet), a song that celebrates hard work and getting the job done. Stay tuned for much more to come from Clayton in 2022.

Anderson’s appearance at REDCREST 2022 is presented by Ugly Stik. The brand will also be hosting a meet and greet with Anderson at the Berkley booth during the expo and hand out Ugly Stik giveaways to fishing fans who watch his appearance on the Mossy Oak Music Stage. More information on Anderson’s appearance can be found by following Ugly Stik on Facebook and Instagram.

Hosted by VisitTulsa, REDCREST 2022 Presented by Costa will take place March 23-27, 2022, with competition set for Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, and the REDCREST Outdoor Sports Expo Presented by Costa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The event will showcase the top 41 Bass Pro Tour anglers from the 2021 season competing for the prestigious REDCREST Championship and the top prize of $300,000.

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing, its tournaments, and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Follow Clayton on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

X Zone Lures 3.25" Hot Shot Minnow Release!

The much anticipated 3.25” Hot Shot Minnow is finally here! Released on March 4^th, it came to the market, just on time for the 2022 Bassmasters Classic which started on March 4^th.

The Hot Shot Minnow from X Zone Lures is the newest bait designed by Elite Series Pro, Brandon Palaniuk.Palaniuk’s attention to detail in bait design is matched by only the best bait designers in the fishing industry.

It is perfect for Drop Shot, Ned Rig and Damiki Rig presentations for Bass, Walleye and many other species.

It has been designed with a unique hook slot which allows for perfect rigging of the bait every time when using it on a drop shot rig. Its high buoyancy materials give it the perfect presentation for Ned Rigging.

The highly developed tail underwent multiple designs to get it just right to present an irresistible action that fish cannot resist.

The realistic body shape and high-quality materials (no cheap fillers) round out the features of this bait to make it a must have in your arsenal.

Applications include:

Drop Shot

Ned Rig

Neko Rig

Damiki Rig

by AnglersChannel

Worlds Fishing Fair slated for March 30-April 3!

Learn More about the event at this link!

by AnglersChannel

Fully Loaded Classic Recap!

This week Chris and David are back from the Classic, they recap the event along with AC Insider Kenneth Grover. They talk about the show, the expo, the competition, the lake and more, another great show!

by AnglersChannel

MLF Bass Fishing League Volunteer Division Tournament on Cherokee Lake Postponed Due to Inclement Weather

WHAT:
The BFL Volunteer Division tournament on Cherokee Lake, scheduled for Saturday, March 12, has been postponed due to freezing temperatures, high winds and unsafe conditions. The event, hosted by the Economic Development Alliance of Jefferson County, has been rescheduled to take place on Sunday, May 22. All takeoff and weigh-in times will remain the same.

WHEN:
Sunday, May 22
Takeoff: 6:30 a.m. ET
Weigh-In: 2:30 p.m. ET

WHERE:
TVA Dam Boat Launch, Renfro Road, Jefferson City, Tenn.

NOTES:
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each Arkie Division qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 20-22 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Smith Lake in Cullman, Alabama.

by AnglersChannel

Millennium Marine Pro-M Series Boat Seats: Our Toughest, Strongest Boat Seats

Pearl, MS (March 8, 2022) – Millennium’s ComfortMAX contoured, tight sling seats have brought peace and comfort to the backsides of untold numbers of hunters and fishermen. For anglers who play in harsh, saltwater environments, Pro-M Series Boat Seats are the obvious choice.

Millennium Marine’s ComfortMAX contoured, tight sling seat with breathable, cool fabric that dries quickly for those wet days is at the heart of every Pro-M Series product. The mesh seat fabric’s mold-, mildew-, and UV-resistant properties provide years of solid use, and the tough reinforced anodized aluminum frame will ward off unruly saltwater corrosion.

The Pro-M 100 Boat Seats lets anglers sit back and relax or cast and reel all day long. They feature an adjustable folding backrest with lumbar support, which folds down flatter than competitors’ seats, allowing better visibility when the boat is underway. The included adjustable armrest straps help support the seat back when it’s unfolded and allow extra comfort for the anglers. With a generous 19” wide by 16.5” deep seat bottom, the Pro-M 100 provides unmatched comfort from all angles that diehard anglers will appreciate.

Pro-M 300 Palma Horse Seats are designed with generous downward curves on front and rear to allow fishermen to comfortably lean, sit, or straddle the seat. With a

Every Millennium Pro-M Series boat seat carries a 1-year warranty and features a standard bolt hole pattern so that they can be mounted on any standard boat seat pedestal. Each model is available in white or gray.